Perez "a bit worried" Racing Point has no answers yet
Sergio Perez says his Racing Point Formula 1 team is a "bit worried" as it has no answers as to why it struggled to optimise the major update package it introduced in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Perez was unhappy with the revised car for much of the weekend in Spain, starting and finishing in 15th place, having earned sixth in the previous race in Baku.
He admits he has concerns about form in Monaco, but hopes that the updates will produce the intended improvement in performance at a very different venue.
"We are a bit worried," Perez said. "Our performance in Spain was very bad, a lot worse than we expected. So we'll see. We hope it was just track related, and we just struggled in Spain.
"Coming here I hope we can be competitive, and back to our usual level. All season we have been struggling for pace, but I hope this weekend can be a good one for us where we can score plenty of points."
Asked if the team had any answers for what happened in Spain, he added: "No, not at the moment. We are still analysing a few bits but we don't have any specific answers about our poor performance.
"It was expected to help in Barcelona. So we'll see. It's very important, hopefully tomorrow we can find a bit of pace and be a bit more competitive."
Perez anticipates that he can get more out of the car at a track where the driver's contribution is more significant than usual.
"I think here it is bigger. Ninety-five percent of the result is [usually] done by the car, but here the other five percent can be a bit bigger.
"If you get the perfect Saturday you can get a bit more out of it than in any other place. The driver can make a little bit more of a difference."
While it is bringing new parts on a regular basis, Racing Point has committed to a major upgrade around the time of the German GP, which will be allied to change of aero concept.
Perez conceded that the team can't wait until then to improve its form.
"A lot of races between now and Germany, and it is important to think race by race. Now we have a big opportunity, and the best thing to do is just to maximise these opportunities. We know that after five races we are fifth in the constructors' championship.
"So it's down to that, maximising every race, and that will be the key this weekend again. Go there and just maximise your chances, and make sure you get the most out of it. By doing that every weekend, once you have a more competitive car, it will be a bit easier."
Previous article
Promoted: Hitting the right note at the French GP
Next article
Grosjean: Haas may come to rue "avoidable" Magnussen clashes
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Sergio Perez |
| Teams | Racing Point |
| Author | Adam Cooper |
Scuderia Ferrari Filming Day Backstage Footage
Back to Work | Valtteri Bottas' 2021 Seat Fit
F1 Explained | Mercedes Power Unit
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.
Why Verstappen isn't interested in the hype game
In a pre-season where Red Bull has been unusually quiet, Max Verstappen has also been guarded about the team's fortunes in 2021. Even after trying the RB16B for the first time at Silverstone, the Dutchman was careful to manage expectations
The pros and cons of F1's 2021 rule changes
In the strategy for grand prix racing's future, 2021 represents a significant step towards the goal of closer racing and a more level playing field. That's the theory behind the latest raft of changes, but will they have the desired effect?
What Red Bull is trying to hide with its RB16B launch
Red Bull made no secret of the fact its 2021 F1 car is an evolution of its predecessor, but in keeping the same foundations while hiding some tightly-guarded updates with its RB16B, the team aims to avoid suffering the same pitfalls of previous years
How Albon plans to fight his way out of Red Bull limbo
Alex Albon has faced the media for the first time since he lost his Red Bull drive at the end of 2020 and dropped out of a Formula 1 race seat altogether. He has a history of bouncing back from setbacks, so here's what he must do to rise again
Ranked! Carlin's greatest F1 graduates
Carlin has helped guide enough drivers to Formula 1 to fill out an entire grid, plus a handful of reserves, to create a remarkable alumni list. With Yuki Tsunoda set to join that group, Motorsport.com has ranked its graduates to grace the grand prix scene...
Why Alfa's 2021 launch says more about its 2022 plans
Alfa Romeo launched its C41 with a revised front nose, but there's little to suggest it will surge up the leaderboard in 2021. As the team frankly admits, it's putting its eggs in the basket labelled 2022 and hoping to hold the eighth place it earned last year
Why Gasly’s AlphaTauri haven is a blessing and a curse
Red Bull opted not to re-sign Pierre Gasly even before it decided to drop Alex Albon and so the Frenchman's Formula 1 journey will continue at AlphaTauri. This has positive and negative connotations for one of last season's star performers.
