Sergio Perez: "Force India no longer best in midfield"
- Published on 07 Mar 2018 10:58
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Sergio Perez admits Force India's place at the top of the F1 midfield is currently in doubt. Now five days into winter testing, the Mexican confessed that other midfield teams are currently ahead of the small Silverstone based outfit that for the last two years has been fourth in the world championship.
"We have to take a big step forward by the first race in Melbourne," Perez admitted. "I hope we can do that and then we can be competitive again. I think what we see in these test days is not relevant, as it's difficult to estimate where we are at the moment. But I think we can say with certainty that we are no longer the best in the midfield."
Perez continued: "However I've said a few times that it doesn't matter where we start, but where we are in the last race in Abu Dhabi. We'll see in Melbourne what our update brings, but I hope it brings a lot. But it's still too early to be happy or disappointed." (GMM)
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Replies (8)
Login to replyk.gandhiin
Posts: 17
In 2017 as well FI was not best in the mid-field, but Palmer, Stroll, Honda & Kvyat all helped them in keeping the 4th in their kitty. Checo should not worry, this year Renault will have some reliability issue and Williams is almost racing for FI with two rookie driver (Stroll is still rookie for me). But be careful Mclaren will be stronger than 2017 so make sure Checo & Ocon don't collide like last year and 4 might just be secured.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Yeah when a scoundrel would who drank the blood of the poor and swindled millions into his failed airlines and now failing to support the F1 team while currently facing an extradition row to India, it is understandable Force India have fallen behind. They might as well be called Farce India. Top that off they have a chicken shit Mclaren reject for the ride, this stuff writes itself, to be fair though they seem to have got something right with Ocon.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Vijay's problems are not new, and Force India has managed to be consistent performer through it all (which made it all the more impressive). FI is a great team and hopefully the pending acquisition by Rich Energy helps wipe of the "India" side of the brand which is tarnished. As for Perez, I think you'd find yourself at odds with reality when looking at his performance. Ocon is a future superstar, but Perez did beat him fair and square. The McLaren reject reputation has sort of been washed every year after that by performing at high level. Of course if you just hate the guy, you won't see any of that.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
You are obviously subscribed to some rose tinted telecast of F1. Ocon has been kicking him around all year and every time they go wheel to wheel in a certain situation where Ocon will get ahead the only answer the shithead has is to hit Ocon's car. That's beating him fair and square eh?! You are definitely a questionable individual in any important venture, that's for sure.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Rose tinted? Just stick to the facts. Look at the results from last season. Perez was clearly at fault in Spa. Ocon was clearly at fault in Singapore. It takes some serious bias to suggest they were not evenly matched. That being said, I too expect Ocon to be significantly improved this year.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It is, but its still early days. I think Renault will have the best potential to beat Force India, but I'd prefer to see FI in front of them.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I hope it's a bloody battle all year long! Unfortunately, I suspect the midfield battle will be much more interesting than the one at the front.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I can do with that. Say what you want about last two years, but the midfields were interesting places.