Sergio Perez believes he and his Racing Point team are “underrated” and says they have begun testing in stronger shape than they expected.
Although he only put 30 laps on the team’s new RP19 chassis yesterday, Perez told Sky he is optimistic the team could challenge for ‘best-of-the-rest’ honours in 2019 following its rebranding from Force India.“I think fourth would be a great achievement for the start of a new era and we will grow from there,” he said. “We are a team that can still grow and we are growing.
“We have a lot of people very underrated in our team, including me. So we are looking forward to delivering and showing what we can do with the right tools in place.”
Following the injection of funds from the its new owners, Perez said Racing Point is “in the best place it’s ever been.
“It’s my sixth year with the team and it really feels like a fresh start. Everyone is so motivated. We know that it’s up for us to deliver at the level we should be.”
Despite his limited running on Monday, Perez said the team has “over-delivered” so far.
“Normally expectations are always better at the factory but we had a nice surprise that we over-delivered here.
“But I have the feeling that everyone is very happy with their cars. I don’t know what happened with the rules this year or what’s going on around, everyone seems to be quite happy with their balance so I think it’s something more than that. On our side we are just focusing on ourselves and trying to be the best as possible.”
He predicted the midfield battle will be “extremely tight” this year. “I don’t know who is on top and at the bottom. But I think from top to bottom it’s about three tenths, four tenths.
“It’s really close. I hope I am not wrong by Melbourne. But so far what we have seen, you have to forget the tyres, fuel loads, whatever, it looks really close the midfield.”
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Manel
19th February 2019, 17:37
Totally agree. Perez has been the best midfielder over the last 8 years. 8 podiums in two midfield teams (Sauber and Force India), and three best-of-rest and one second-best-of-the-rest also in two midfield teams is a great tally. All of it in 8 years.
Perez just needs to practice better communication with the media and fans and slightly higher speed in qualifying …
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
19th February 2019, 17:41
“But I have the feeling that everyone is very happy with their cars. I don’t know what happened with the rules this year or what’s going on around, everyone seems to be quite happy with their balance so I think it’s something more than that. On our side we are just focusing on ourselves and trying to be the best as possible.”
Maybe new front wings are better and more stable.
DC2812 (@diegof1)
19th February 2019, 17:59
“We have a lot of people very underrated in our team, including me (…)”
Racing Point is definitely not underrated as a team, hence nor is the people working there. I think they have gained everyone’s respect given the performance shown during the previous years, and certainly Perez is not an underrated driver, at least for what I’ve seen and read. I find this comment a bit awkward truly.
JV
19th February 2019, 18:39
Occassional Podium man is not underrated.
LMB-F1 (@luis)
19th February 2019, 22:28
I don’t remember an occasional podium of Perez, Sergio won them all with a lot of work and good hands.
…please, do not underestimate it, it may seem a bit awkward truly for diego2812
DC2812 (@diegof1)
20th February 2019, 17:21
I don’t really understand your comment, or sarcasm that is. I hold both Perez and Racing Point in high esteem, and I believe that is also the general consensus. That is why I find strange that he believes he and the team are both underrated, when everyone acknowledges both are great.
socksolid (@socksolid)
19th February 2019, 19:41
Force india can be rightfully called the giant killers in f1. The team that every year seems to overperform.
RB13
20th February 2019, 10:23
Used to rate Perez highly until he started driving his teammate off the road / into walls and crying to be left ahead / allowed to pass (one rule for him, another for Ocon)