ABU DHABI // On paper, being seventh in the drivers’ championship and having your team be fourth in the constructors’ standings does not sound like much to write home about.
But in the world of Formula One, where the competition is notoriously uneven, the achievements of 2016 have given Sergio Perez great pride.
The Mexican’s 97 points heading into the final race of the season are the most by any driver who does not race for Mercedes-GP, Red Bull Racing or Ferrari.
His efforts have also made Force India, one of the non-manufacturer owned teams in F1, the best of the rest behind that trio.
Force India are 27 points clear of fifth-placed Williams going into Sunday’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and given Williams’s best haul of points in a single race this year is 22, their place in the top four looks secure.
“I think it will definitely be one of my highest achievements to put Force India fourth,” Perez, 26, said when reflecting on his endeavours in the Yas Marina Circuit paddock.
“It will be something that will mean a lot to us. Contributing to the team and delivering the results, it has been an incredible year with two podiums finishes as well.”
More Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
• Friday practice: Hamilton leads the way + results
• Live blog: All the action on and off the track
• Lance Stroll: Teenager ready for step up to Formula One
Perez’s two standout performances were two third-place finishes in Monaco and Azerbaijan.
While Monaco was achieved in wet conditions, where a perfectly timed pit stop onto dry tyres vaulted him up the order, his efforts in Baku were achieved purely by being quick all weekend.
He had qualified second, his highest ever starting position for a grand prix, beaten only by world championship leader Nico Rosberg.
A crash in practice before qualifying meant he incurred a five-place grid penalty for having his gearbox changed, resulting in a drop to seventh.
However, Perez bounced back in the race, storming up the order to take third, beaten only by Rosberg and the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.
“Very proud,” he said of his podium finish at Baku. “It was the best weekend probably of my career. Crashing in P3 meant that we had the penalty but we still put the car P2 in qualifying.
“Just resetting myself mentally [after the crash] it was the strongest weekend of my career.”
Perez’s efforts on track did not go unnoticed and he was linked with both Renault and Haas F1 for 2017, before announcing a new one-year deal with Force India.
Coming after he had been at his lowest ebb three years ago, when he was dropped by McLaren after a disappointing year, it has been quite the turnaround for Perez.
“The confidence of knowing that there are teams that want you as a driver makes you feel very happy and gives you encouragement,” Perez said.
As to why he had chosen to stay at Force India and not join a team with manufacturer backing in Renault, he added: “I know the team, I know where I stand with them and that I have a good opportunity to move forward with them.
“It was nice to have a couple of options available but in the end the best opportunity for my future was to stay here.”
Perez may be delighted with what he and his team have achieved this season, but he will not be resting on his laurels and has high ambitions for further progress next year.
“We have to aim to be the third fastest team,” he said. “We need to aim to move forward but it is going to be a massive task to beat the Red Bulls, Ferraris or Mercedes.
“I believe it is a massive opportunity to do well and we can definitely put ourselves in a great position.”
Next year, Perez will have a new teammate in Esteban Ocon, currently at Manor Racing, who is replacing the Renault-bound Nico Hulkenberg.
It will be the first time Perez is the more experienced driver in a team, but the Mexican, who made his debut in March 2011, said this would not faze him.
“I don’t think it changes anything,” he said. “My approach will still be the same; to keep delivering for the team, both on and off the track. It is quite important to me to deliver as much as I can.”
Before Perez turns his attention to next year, there is the small matter of ending this season on a positive note in the UAE.
“We can definitely challenge for plenty of points to end our season on a great high,” said Perez, who qualified fourth 12 months ago and finished fifth.
“I think we were very strong here last year so hopefully we can be as strong this year.”
For more from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, including exclusive interviews, information guides, videos and much more, visit our dedicated microsite.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
