Perez: 2018 season will determine my F1 career

Sergio Perez acknowledges he will need to perform at his best during the upcoming 2018 Formula 1 season if he is to earn a move up the grid for 2019.

The Mexican is entering his fifth campaign with Force India, during which time he has earned back-to-back career-best finishes in the drivers’ standings, as well picking up four podiums. 

Perez: 2018 season will determine my F1 career

Sergio Perez acknowledges he will need to perform at his best during the upcoming 2018 Formula 1 season if he is to earn a move up the grid for 2019.

The Mexican is entering his fifth campaign with Force India, during which time he has earned back-to-back career-best finishes in the drivers’ standings, as well picking up four podiums. 

Perez - who has been linked with a move to Ferrari and Renault in recent years - has remained a significant presence in Force India’s rise up F1’s pecking order over the last few seasons, following his switch from McLaren after a difficult 2013. 

But with the prospect of seats becoming free at Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in 2019, Perez is aware he needs to be at the top of his game this year in order to get noticed. 

"Definitely it is a year that is going to determine my career, my coming years," Perez told Reuters. “This year it's going to be interesting to stay where we are and then see what's available. I definitely want to be in the best possible car I can be.”

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Force India is looking to hold onto fourth place in the constructors’ championship in 2018, though it is set to face a tight midfield scrap against the likes of Renault, McLaren, Haas and Toro Rosso.

Despite recording the team’s most successful campaign in F1, Force India’s 2017 season was marred by friction between Perez and teammate Esteban Ocon. The pair clashed in Azerbaijan and Belgium last year, which led to Force India imposing team orders on the pair. However, Perez insists their relationship has since improved.

“I think we definitely had very intense moments in the team and thankfully everything changed for the good of the team, for the benefit of us.

“Now we work well together, in the last races, and I really hope that trend continues. We have to work together, we have to be united to push the team forward and hopefully battle each other for good positions.”

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