Sergio Perez believes Force India should now target the top three teams thanks to the investment of new owner Lawrence Stroll.
The Silverstone-based squad is set for an expansion under the consortium led by the Canadian potentially including a move to a new factory as part of the long-term plans.
Since Stroll’s takeover, Force India has once again returned to the front of the midfield scoring 47 points since Spa and could well challenge McLaren for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship with the current deficit at 11 points.
Looking to 2019 and beyond, however, the Mexican only sees a continuation of the upward trend.
“We have to deliver to a new level, the next step. Since I joined the team we’ve made incredible progress,” he was quoted by Motorsport Week.
“Lawrence is enthusiastic and optimistic and willing to take this team to the next level. He understands racing, he believes a lot in what he bought, and I want to be part of this new, next generation of the team. We have very promising times ahead of us.
“I think [the step is] obviously not from one year to another, Lawrence is willing to put this team into the next step and the next step has to be top three.
“You are fighting big budgets, big facilities, but I believe with the right investment, right guidance this team can definitely be one to watch for the near future.
“I’m optimistic next year we should already be making a good step forward.”
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A big difference Perez expects to see is the ability to be competitive from the very start of a season, with the in-season development being the main strength in recent years.
“We should be having a strong baseline from race one onwards, and that should make a big difference,” he stated.
“Saying that I cannot take away anything from the team, we’ve been extremely successful with the limitations we’ve had, the best of the rest the last two years, even the problems this season.”