Sergio Perez has outlined that Racing Point should target finishing the 2019 Formula 1 season with the fourth-fastest package, as it bids to make up for a slow start.
Racing Point was playing catch-up early on compared to its midfield opponents in the wake of its mid-2018 takeover, with the team having adopted a conservative stance when it faced an uncertain future.
It introduced the first two stages of a three-phase upgrade package across Germany and Hungary, and is set to bring the final part – focusing on a new front wing – to Singapore.
Having failed to score points for eight successive races Perez returned to the top 10 in Belgium, matching his season-best result of sixth, and followed it up with seventh a week later in Italy.
“We definitely made some progress, and we are making [progress], so it’s definitely encouraging to have the targets for the rest of the year,” said Perez.
“I want to make sure we finish the season with the fourth-best car on the grid, regularly, across different circuits, and that will be a good finish to the season.
“I think a step of three-tenths on top of what we have is what we need to be regularly the fourth-fastest team out there. It’s very close, but three-tenths considering [everyone] improves is a big step.”
Team-mate Lance Stroll, who secured the team’s best 2019 result of fourth in Germany, echoed Perez’s stance.
“It’s going to be a little bit track dependent,” he said on Racing Point’s prospects.
“But we’ve seen on a couple of occasions we’ve been able to be the fourth-quickest car on some of the faster circuits, so that’s definitely the goal.”
