F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Perez hopes Bahrain was as worst as it got for Racing Point

Sergio Perez hopes that last weekend's disappointing Bahrain Grand Prix was the "bottom" for Racing Point whose RP19 struggled in the desert at Sakhir.

Neither Perez or team mate Lance Stroll succeeded in pulling themselves up from the lower echelon of the pack, with the Racing Point duo qualifying respectively 14th and 18th.

Race day hardly told a better story although Perez was delivered a top-ten finish, courtesy of the late double DNF suffered by Renault.

Will Bahrain mark the low point for the Silverstone-based squad? Perez sure hopes so.

"I think this is the bottom for us, I hope this is the worst track in the season and I really hope this is the worst race for us," he said.

"Last year we also struggled here, so I think to be where we are scoring a point is not a bad result."

Despite his car's depressed level of performance, the Mexican actually enjoyed himself on Sunday as he fought in the thick of the mid-field pack. And adding to his team's points tally after Melbourne was a welcome bonus.

"It was very good, a good first lap and gained a lot of positions," he added.

"We lacked a bit of pace, for us the pace was not great, and overtaking here is quite easy so there was nothing we could really do."

"In the end we were lucky with the Renaults, but a bit unlucky that we were so close to Albon and without the safety car I could have passed him.

"These points at the end of the year make a massive difference so we just have to keep scoring as many as we possibly can while the car is poor as it is at the moment.

"Hopefully, step by step we can keep improving the car."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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