Sergio Perez has admitted 2018 could be the year which makes or breaks his Formula 1 career, with a number of drivers facing uncertain futures at the front of the grid.
Five drivers at the top three teams plus McLaren are likely to be considering their future with both Mercedes seats currently unfilled for 2019, Kimi Raikkonen on a single year deal at Ferrari, Daniel Ricciardo weighing up his options at Red Bull and Fernando Alonso, though reportedly signed on a new multi-year deal, likely to be following the competitiveness of McLaren.
That could open doors to some of the top midfield talents to force their way into the minds of the bosses at the top teams with the Mexican leading the queue.
“It’s such an important year, there will be a lot of [driver] movements around F1 in 2019,” Perez predicted talking to Motorsport.com.
“Everyone is looking at you not only in one race or one year but many years and when you look at what I’ve done in the last few years, I believe I’m in a good position.
“I am totally prepared and I believe I will move up the grid, I believe there will be a chance.”
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The 27-year-old is keener than most having finished seventh in the drivers’ championship the last two years with Force India and also having seen his first big move to McLaren in 2013 coincide with the start of the British team’s current downfall.
“I truly believe that McLaren came too early in my career,” he added looking at his own performance that year. “I wasn’t ready for that but it came because I was doing a tremendous job.
“I needed another year at Sauber at that time but it is what it is. Thanks to that year, it has made me the driver that I am now.”
Perez’s chances are slim, however, with his current teammate Esteban Ocon a Mercedes junior, Checo cut initial ties with Ferrari to join McLaren and Red Bull rarely look outside their driver stable.
Considering how he’d feel if he didn’t get another chance then, Sergio added: “I will have the regret that I never had the chance to show I can fight for titles, win titles but there is nothing you can do.
“I’ve shown what I can do in F1 but I want more and I feel that I can do a lot more than this.”