Perez tips Haas to challenge Force India in 2016

Sergio Perez has backed Force India to rise to the "huge task" of continuing to raise its game in formula one. Teammate Nico Hulkenberg may have been the high-profile Le Mans winner, but it was Mexican Perez who shone the brightest in 2015 for the Silverstone based team.

Force India finished the championship an impressive fifth overall. "That we were fifth even before the debut of the B car, when Lotus was better than us, strengthened my confidence in the team, which is why I decided to stay," Perez told Auto Motor und Sport. He also said he raised his own game in 2015. "In 2012 I was on the podium three times, which was special, but I was much more consistent this year than I was then," said the former Sauber driver.

So what can Force India, with one of the smallest budgets on the grid, do next? F1 business journalist Christian Sylt wrote in the Express newspaper that owner Vijay Mallya is "negotiating and discussing" a new naming rights deal with Aston Martin, the iconic luxury British carmaker.

And Perez says the team wants to keep getting better. "This is a huge task for a small team like us, to take on teams like Williams and Red Bull. I also expect more from some of our other opponents next season. McLaren, for example, and Toro Rosso, and we also must not underestimate Haas," he said. "This (Haas) is not really a new team. With their connection to Ferrari, they will be a challenger from the beginning," said Perez. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Cadillac F1
  • Points 1,450
  • Podiums 35
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country Mexico
  • Date of b. Jan 26 1990 (36)
  • Place of b. Guadalajara, Mexico
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar