Sergio Perez is heading into the new Formula 1 season "optimistic" about Force India but admits the improvements from others is a worry.
After finishing fourth in the constructors' championship the past two years and doing so dominantly last season, the Mexican has been largely downbeat about the Silverstone-based team after a quiet preseason.
However, now in Australia ahead of the season opener, the tone has changed with Perez confident of greater competitiveness in a very tight midfield pack.
"We are not as bad as we look, especially with the upgrade package coming," he told the media on Thursday.
"The issues that we experienced in Barcelona I think are very irrelevant to what we are going to have this year. We are probably better than we expected to start the season. I am optimistic."
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The main threats to Force India come from McLaren and Renault, both of whom ended last year level in terms of performance and are expected to make strong gains in 2018.
Other teams such as Haas and Toro Rosso also hinted at better than expected performance in testing, all of which has left Perez sure of one thing.
"We are facing our biggest challenge yet in the five years I've been with the team," he declared. "It's going to be a really tough battle in the midfield with some great teams out there.
"The target for us this weekend is to start the year on a high. It's important especially in these first couple of races where everyone is figuring out many things, it's good to be out there and push for the strong result."
