Sergio Perez has labelled his 2018 campaign as "a bit up and down" but believes Force India has made strong gains after being "very slow" at the start of the year.
Force India put in a subdued performance pre-season and held only ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship, but has since risen to sixth, in spite of its well-documented off-track problems.
Perez, meanwhile, climbed onto the podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – the only midfield driver to do so – but has scored points at just four of the other 11 grands prix.
It has left Perez still inside the top 10 in the championship, ahead of Renault’s Carlos Sainz Jr. on countback of results, and just one point clear of team-mate Esteban Ocon, with Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly close behind.
"It's been a bit up and down," he said. "A couple of very unlucky races, some pit stop issues or some… I'll say a couple of races, very much bad luck.
"But the rest I think has been promising. We started the season very slow. We were one of the slowest teams out there. We progressed.
"We are the only team out of the top three to score a podium… good points… and we are on track now.
"I think it will depend what happens after the summer break in the first four or five races how much we close the gap to Renault. But I still believe fourth is possible."
Perez also hinted that the nature of the VJM11 has not been suited to his driving style, adding: "My season, I think up to now, it's been a bit up and down," he emphasised.
"I've been struggling with the car a lot with the deficits. It has really helped me in terms of how I drive.
"I've been having to do a lot of adaptation to the issues we have with the car right now, but still, good points, inside the top 10 in the Drivers' Championship, [sixth] in the Constructors’. I think it hasn't been too bad."
