Sergio Perez says Force India is ‘moving in the right direction’, with the Mexican entering this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix on the back of two consecutive top-10 finishes.
Initially tipped as a genuine points contender, the Silverstone-based outfit first struggled to recapture the sort of form that had earned it a best-ever fifth place in last year’s Constructors’s standings.
Having opened his tally with P9 in Russia, Perez followed it up with a season-best result of seventh in Barcelona where Force India introduced a number of important upgrades.
“I’m happy with my results in the last couple of races,” the 26-year-old said. “We’ve improved the car and we are moving in a good direction. I think the next run of races will give us the chance to show our speed and continue picking up the points we need for the championship.”
Perez has had his highs and lows in Monaco since making his F1 debut in 2011. As a rookie, the former GP2 Series ace heavily crashed in qualifying and was ruled out of the event on medical grounds. Last year, he took the unfancied VJM08 to a stunning seventh-place. Despite mixed previous experiences, Perez is an avowed fan of the venue.
“Monaco is my favourite circuit of the year. It’s very demanding, but it’s also a track where the driver can make more of a difference. You need to be brave, push the limits and use every inch of the track - that’s why it’s so much fun in the car. I really enjoy the quicker parts of the lap – Casino and the Swimming Pool – where you need to be accurate and carry lots of speed.
“When I was a child I always dreamed about racing in Monaco. I’ve had good memories there and some difficult days too. Scoring points last year was special and a very important result for the team.
“It’s always a busy week on and off the track, but it’s good fun because the fans can walk the track and get really close to us. It always gives me a lot of energy just being there and soaking up the atmosphere.”
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