Sergio Perez has predicted the 2018 F1 season will be the biggest challenge Force India has faced in his five years at the team.
The team finished fourth in the championship the last two years running but expects to face much tougher competition in the midfield this year.
“And then you have the Haas, you know, they have been the massive surprise in testing. So the midfield has become really strong.”
“We know that it’s going to be a tough battle,” he said, “there are great teams out there. But I believe in this team.”
“We are facing our biggest challenge yet. The five years I’ve been with the team this is the biggest challenge we’re facing. I’m up for it, the team is up and everyone is really enthusiastic.”
Perez said during pre-season testing the team needs to find significant gains from its upgrade package for the first race this weekend. He is confident the team is more competitive than it appeared to be in testing.
“We are not as bad as we look, I think,” he said. “Especially with the upgrades we are having. We are more optimistic when we see where we really are.”
“There are reasons to be optimistic. I’ve been in that situation before and I think this year we’re probably better than we expected to start the season. We’ll see where we are and tomorrow we will have a better picture.”
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FlatSix (@)
22nd March 2018, 8:11
I’m quite surprised the Haas is an actual treat to some. They really do seem on form. I expected it to be a test-glitch if you like. We’ll see come Sunday.
hunocsi (@hunocsi)
22nd March 2018, 12:51
@flatsix Both Magnussen and Grosjean did quick times, neither on the softest tyre, on different days, and if I recall correctly neither did it on a single push lap. Just from that it would seem like it’s not just a glitch, and they have been praised by rivals quite a lot, too. Even Hamilton and Wolff mentioned their car as a standout, and when Gasly was on the F1 live stream on the last testing day he said that the Haas looks very impressive on track, so they might be a real threat. I guess their development rate will be the biggest unknown throughout the season, but this weekend they could be the 4th quickest team.
Chris Lunnon (@chr1sf1)
22nd March 2018, 9:05
I think the Force India rivalry should die done now they’re no longer in a space of their own fighting for fourth. I think Perez’s career will very much be determined by Bottas’s form. If Bottas is lagging a long way off Hamilton, that’ll give Ocon the extra push as he goes for the Mercedes seat. I bet Force India will be much less regularly in the points this year but when they are they’ll be more likely to get podiums or 4ths/5ths, especially at tracks like Mexico, Monza, Spa and Silverstone, given the Mercedes engine advantage over Renault.
petebaldwin (@)
22nd March 2018, 9:31
We’ll see where we are and tomorrow we will have a better picture
Tomorrow!!!! Woohoo! Can’t wait. :D
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
22nd March 2018, 10:17
I really hope this team can continue their fight for 4th.
Pound for pound they’ve probably been the best team for the past 3 years.
abel
22nd March 2018, 12:11
No question – racers through and through, exciting overall as a team both technically and otherwise. I’ve really found myself using their example as inspiration for corporate challenges, etc. Great underdogs.
6th is more realistic. Regularly scoring 1-6 points would be success already.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd March 2018, 11:32
I expect them to finish 6th in the Constructors’ Championship.
FlatSix (@)
22nd March 2018, 13:24
@jerejj So
I’m expecting the same, however I hope the fight for 4th is as intense as some remember the fights between Senna and Prost.