Breaking news
Formula 1
Force India car requiring "too many compromises" - Perez
Force India is making “too many compromises” to get its Formula 1 car working better, according to driver Sergio Perez.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: May 23, 2018, 12:56 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
A rear-end stability problem has plagued Force India in 2018, with 15 of the 18 points the team has scored so far coming from Perez’s surprise Azerbaijan podium.
Technical director Andrew Green claimed at the last round in Spain the team was only just getting the car to the level it hoped to have at the season-opener in Australia.
A new front wing is among several updates tested since then, but that part is yet to be raced because Perez said the team needs to get on top of its handling problems.
Asked by Motorsport.com what the car is lacking, Perez replied: “It’s downforce, basically, to be able to balance our car better.
“We’re struggling quite a bit with downforce and therefore we need to make too many compromises on the balance.”
He added: “When you see Barcelona, or other races, we’re still lacking a bit. It will be interesting to see where we are around Monaco.
“It’s really close between Haas, Renault, McLaren and ourselves. Whatever we can gain on a weekend can relate straight away to the final result.
“We’re looking for small margins. I still think at the moment we’re at the back of that group.”
Perez started 15th and scored two points in Spain while teammate Esteban Ocon, who has just one point to his name this season, retired from a likely top-10 finish with an oil problem after starting 13th.
Ocon said it looks like Force India, which has made the final part of qualifying three times this season, is stronger in race trim than over one lap.
“In Barcelona qualifying we didn't have a fantastic pace, but in the race we were competitive,” said Ocon. “We were going to end up both cars in the points.”
Perez said the team does “pick up a bit of a step” in the race but said he “shouldn’t have been in the points” if not for several others hitting trouble.
The brace of points left Perez 11th in the drivers’ standings and Force India seventh in the constructors’ contest, two points behind Haas and 23 behind fourth-placed Renault.
“We beat one Haas, one McLaren, one Renault – teams that were quicker than us,” said Perez.
“The [championship] picture looks better than where we should be at the moment.
“Hopefully we can close up the gap.”
Ocon believes the midfield battle will “evolve massively” throughout the season and Perez is confident Force India can beat its better-funded rivals in the development race.
“It’s so related to getting the right upgrade, not everything you bring to the car works always,” he said.
“Being efficient in the next couple of races will make a big difference.”
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 Grosjean future not in question, says Haas
Next article Ferrari to experiment with old suspension in Monaco
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Sergio Perez
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Cadillac reveals date for F1 engine factory debut, thanks drivers for being “patient”
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Sergio Perez: Debut Cadillac season "without a doubt one of my best years"
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Cadillac’s F1 brakes are still a problem: ‘I had to lift and coast on lap two’
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
Jorge Martin planning MotoGP return at Malaysian GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 min
Jorge Martin planning MotoGP return at Malaysian GP
Lando Norris laments "very bad job" in qualifying for F1 United States GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
7 min
Lando Norris laments "very bad job" in qualifying for F1 United States GP
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
48 min
F1 United States GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
2026 F1 United States Grand Prix starting grid
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
57 min
2026 F1 United States Grand Prix starting grid
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