Perez: RP20 the best car I've ever had to start a season

  • Published on 26 Feb 2020 18:51
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sergio Perez says the Racing Point RP20 is the strongest car he's ever had in Formula 1 heading into a new season.

The 2020 challenger from the Silverstone-based team has been a big talking point at testing over the last week due to its similarities to the 2019 Mercedes car.

MOREPerez: Racing Point copying Mercedes concept is 'a risk worth taking' | Kubica ends the opening day of week two in Barcelona on top

Perez ended the opening day of week two of Barcelona testing in third place with a lap time of 1:17.428, half a second down on session leader Robert Kubica.

Speaking to media including GPToday.net after Wednesday's running, the Mexican said: “This is probably the most solid package I’ve had in my career to start the season. I hope in Melbourne that proves to be right.

”But at the moment the car is working well. There are good signs but we’ve got so much work to do before Melbourne.”

'Waste of time' to study the timesheet

Perez played down suggestions that Racing Point could start the season as podium contenders, following on from rumours that the car possesses the pace to knock on the door of Ferrari.

The 30-year-old said it is a waste of time to analyse the timing sheet before the start of the season in Melbourne.

”I think the top teams are still very strong,” he said. “But it’s very difficult to figure out where everyone is. By the end of testing, we will have a bigger picture.

“The more you look into the times the more you waste your time. So we got to wait for the next two days and see where everyone is when they do more long-running.”

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Racing Point looks consistently fast. Too early to judge but I wouldn't be surprised to see them on top of the midfield and troubling the top 3 occasionally. I'm excited for Perez, have thought for the last 3-4 years that he is top team material.
    Also, I expect that Stroll will look quite bad next to Perez. The speed of the car will only exacerbate the difference between the two.

    • + 0
    • Feb 26 2020 - 23:42
  • It still looks amazing. McLaren might have a hard time beating this to p4, I feel.

    • + 0
    • Feb 27 2020 - 06:13

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Mexico
  • Date of b. Jan 26 1990 (34)
  • Place of b. Guadalajara, Mexico
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar