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Sergio Perez says that onlookers have become too accustomed to his results, which has left him to believe he is underrated in F1. The Mexican ended the 2018 season in eighth place, just missing out on the 'best of the rest' spot.
In the turbo hybrid era so far, Perez has only raced for Force India, and has scored points on a consistent basis. 2017 marks the only season since the hybrid era began that he hasn't stepped onto the podium across the entirety of the season.
"It's like people just get used to me," Perez told Autosport. "When I was new here, everyone was talking about me and I was the next big thing, as Esteban is right now. Last year [2017] I was best of the rest, I've been beating all my teammates I've had. So results in the end talk more than what people say."
Although he lost out 16-5 to 2018 teammate Esteban Ocon in qualifying, Perez got the better of him in the races - and added that he was once hailed in the limelight the same way that Ocon is now.
"I think results are clear," Perez said. "He was the better one in qualifying, although the margin was extremely small. It is less than a tenth between us in qualifying. And I was the better one in the races. I got the most points and also the best results. But it was really close between us up to now."
Perez revealed that he was not entirely comfortable with the VJM-11 across the season, and admitted that Ocon, who will sit on the sidelines for the 2019 season, simply did a better job when it came to the fight on Saturday.
"I didn't feel very confident this year with the car to be honest," said Perez. "I did struggle quite a lot throughout the year to balance the car, but I did manage to get the most out of it in the race.
"That's to take nothing away from him. I didn't get on with it and he did better in qualifying. That's it. It is up to me and to my team to get the best out of the car. I think in other years I've been more comfortable with the car on Saturday, and [last year] I probably focused quite a bit on Sundays too."
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (8)
Login to replymcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Perez has no place in any of the top 3 teams for various reasons, including talent. He has proved time and again the best of the rest. May be he should have got that Renault seat instead of Hulk.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Considering the position Renault is currently in, we dont even know if they will stay in F1, so Im not sure thats a place anyone wanna be in right now. Ghosn was one of the more leading forces behind their F1 efforts, and now he is gone from Renault. I think they will stay, but still, there are safer places to be at.
Kean
Posts: 692
I think he deserved to replace Kimi in 2015 or 2016, but could it be that Ferrari were still ticked off that he had broken ranks and signed with McLaren back in 2013, it wouldn't surprise me. The way I remember it Perez was Renault's top choice, but Perez chose to stay with SFI as he saw it as the best of the rest team, and didn't think that Renault was gonna get their act together fast enough (and he was right).
f1ski
Posts: 726
There are no untalented drivers in F1. Some are underrated. Checo is one of them.
2GRX7
Posts: 108
Sorry, no longer a Perez fan. His putting Ocon into the wall in Singapore was purely intentional.
His claims of loosing the rear-end after getting caught right-flicking his wheel and correcting don't fly with the camera angles that showed no rear-end loss whatsoever. His realization of having a faster teammate shouldn't manifest on-track.
And that excuse of, "you shouldn't be passing on the outside of the turn" automatically being the end to your race is B.S. If you're looking in the wrong direction and get caught out-too bad!
Totally believing Jo Ramirez' criticism of now.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
And Ocon did the same in Azerbaijan check out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7meRNow95rI
Both drivers are very similar in the way they approach contact with their team mate. I don't think either driver really deserves an top seat. The RP cars are the correct level for both.
2GRX7
Posts: 108
He sure did, Boudy, in fact, Ocon cut him off after being 3/4 past him, but the MAJOR difference is how each incident was handled. and Checo's indignant response of, "well, he shouldn't be passing on the outside" was what sealed it for me. WTF-don't pass on the outside?!!! You pass wherever a solid opportunity comes up.
Ocon had provided more than enough space and as Ocon, pulling ahead, clearly had better traction out of the corner, Checo turned into him! No loss of traction, no one on his inside pushing him out, just an FU kid, flick! Bi!tch move, IMO.
2GRX7
Posts: 108
OMG, JUST looked at that link you posted, Boudy, and it starts with Checo blocking when he was told to let Ocon through in Canada! Well, he let him through after Ocon's tires went off! Think that wasn't planned? SMH!