Sergio Perez admits his Force India team will face a significant battle to retain their fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship in 2018 with a number of midfield teams predicted to rapidly improve.
This year, the Silverstone-based team rose as the top midfield team from the beginning and has been able to consolidate their position at almost every race with double top 10 results at all bar four of the 14 races so far.
Force India has also been helped by poor development at Williams and Haas, poor reliability at Renault which has also impacted Toro Rosso and McLaren’s ongoing saga with Honda.
Looking ahead to next season, the Mexican was asked in Malaysia specifically about the improvement by Renault but would then pinpoint three teams that could prove tough to match as they solve the issues they have faced this season.
“I think so, but the one that I’m more concerned about is McLaren. I think McLaren will be quite strong,” he said. “If all that they are saying about their chassis is true, they are going to be quite strong next year. So you’re going to have the Renault’s, you’re going to have the McLaren’s, also the Williams’.”
Fernando Alonso also admitted the British team’s change to the French manufacturer’s engine will offer answers on their claims of a superior chassis, while the Renault works team has a bigger budget and an improving operation at Enstone to help them move forward, as does Williams under the leadership of former Mercedes boss Paddy Lowe.
Perez is unfazed by the potential challenge, however, pointing out how Force India has always been considered the underdog and highlighting the consistency they have shown even if the pace hasn’t always been as good.
“It’s not going to be an easy one, but all the time I have been in this team, people always underestimate us and look where we are,” he said. “I think there is good potential. Renault has been quick lately, but it’s not just about being quick, it’s about reliability. There are so many things. It’s important to score every weekend.
“In the past, we’ve learned our car was very strong on a couple of circuits, but in some others, we weren’t so strong. I think now the platform is more consistent for all the circuits.”
The comparison with Renault does have extra meaning to ‘Checo’ as the current seventh-placed driver in the championship was heavily linked with a move before staying with Force India for 2017.
“I think at the end of the day you want to be in a position where you can be in a car that can offer you the fastest performance. I believe that is here,” he commented. “I think the whole package was better for me to stay here.”
