Perez: Racing Point copying Mercedes concept is 'a risk worth taking'

  • Published on 26 Feb 2020 16:15
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Sergio Perez admits that Racing Point's decision to copy Mercedes' W10 is a “risk worth taking” for the Silverstone squad.

The team made headlines last week when it showed up to the opening week of testing with a car that appeared strikingly similar to that of Mercedes' 2019 car.

It set 371 laps over the course of three days, as it stacked up the data from the new concept car.

MOREPerez: Changing car concepts 'a very positive thing' for Melbourne | Fourth is Racing Point's 2020 goal - Perez

However, Perez admits that it is danger in taking on such a task, but understands that there would be huge benefits for the team should the choice work out in its favour

“Yeah it is, after so many years you are used to your design,” Perez said when asked there was a risk in changing design. “To change that dramatically, the car is changing quite a lot. The way it operates is very different. It’s a huge risk but I think it’s worth taking.”

Racing Point endured a challenging start to the 2019 season 12 months ago. A lack of spare parts meant it had low mileage under its belt at the end of the two weeks of testing.

It ended the 2019 championship seventh in the constructors' standings, as the car development positively throughout the year, leading to six consecutive races at the end of the season in which Perez finished in the points.

The Mexican says the driver will always have a big impact on the direction of the car's development throughout a year and from season-to-season.

“We do 21 weekends a year and every weekend you are telling the [team] issues of the car, what direction we need to improve and things like that,” he said. 

“So sometimes it’s not easy to fix, sometimes it can’t go ahead. But the driver will always have an impact on what the car is doing.”

Racing Point impressed on the timesheets during the opening week of testing, but Perez was quick to hush any suggestions of where the team could be in the pecking order.

“Well obviously it has some similarities to last years, but everything is in the right direction. We’ve worked really hard and it’s also a very good step in the car. But it’s very early days and we have a lot of work to do in the coming days.”

Replies (0)

Login to reply

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

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 1,448
  • Podiums 35
  • Grand Prix 202
  • Country MX
  • Date of b. Jan 26 1990 (34)
  • Place of b. Guadalajara, MX
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar