Breaking news
Formula 1 Barcelona pre-season testing II
Force India must address “weaknesses” with 2017 car – Perez
Sergio Perez says he remains optimistic for the season ahead, despite admitting Force India has found weaknesses with its VJM10 car that are “quite critical” to remedy.
Charles Bradley
Edited: Mar 8, 2017, 8:44 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Speaking to reporters in Barcelona today, Perez – who was eighth fastest, 2sec off the pace – said its testing programme hadn’t gone to plan.
“We had a lot of interruptions,” he said. “Once with an early brake failure and then a couple of red flags, which [meant] we didn’t quite get our programme done, but I think we’re learning. We learned a lot once again.
“I think today the team has found a lot of the weaknesses that we have with the car, which is quite critical, and I think it’s just a matter of time before we sort them out, because I think it is quite easy to sort those issues.”
The 27-year-old Mexican, who last year finished as top driver outside of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, believes the true pecking order is yet to emerge in terms of 2017 car performance.
“I’m optimistic,” he said of Force India’s chances. “As always, it’s not important where you are in testing in Barcelona, its where you end up in Abu Dhabi, the last race.
“So very optimistic for the season and still a long way to go. I think tomorrow with Esteban [Ocon, his new teammate] and obviously with me in the final day we will have a lot of idea on where we stand.”
Fears over Melbourne fixes
When asked if Force India has time to rectify all the problems it’s identified in time for the season opener, he replied: “Obviously the team is pushing very hard to try to get some upgrades for Australia.
“Especially those upgrades which are probably easy to fix, but it just takes time.
“So hopefully we can fix most of them for Melbourne and, if not, by second or third race we should be already on a good level.”
Additional reporting by Oleg Karpov
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Verstappen insists Renault "on top" of engine problems
Next article Alonso: Bad year will not force me out of F1
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Charles Bradley
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
More from
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Sergio Perez to skip F1 Mexico GP fan forum due to illness
Sergio Perez praises Colton Herta impact - but has no say over 2027 Cadillac F1 team-mate choice
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Sergio Perez praises Colton Herta impact - but has no say over 2027 Cadillac F1 team-mate choice
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career
More from
Force India
Otmar Szafnauer reveals failed Kimi Raikkonen bid involving "Angry Birds" founders
Formula 1
Formula 1
Canadian GP
Otmar Szafnauer reveals failed Kimi Raikkonen bid involving "Angry Birds" founders
Esteban Ocon explains why he collided with Sergio Perez so often at Force India
Formula 1
Formula 1
Esteban Ocon explains why he collided with Sergio Perez so often at Force India
Former Force India F1 boss Fernley dies aged 70
Formula 1
Formula 1
Austrian GP
Former Force India F1 boss Fernley dies aged 70
Latest news
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 17 min
'There’s more to come' as IndyCar and NASCAR leaders eye future doubleheaders
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
Johann Zarco says “I didn’t want to break the engine” after Malaysian GP DNF
Homestead NASCAR Viewer's Guide: Everything you need to know for the season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Homestead NASCAR Viewer's Guide: Everything you need to know for the season finale
Mercedes fined for George Russell skipping F1 Mexico GP media duties
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Mercedes fined for George Russell skipping F1 Mexico GP media duties
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe