Perez warns McLaren fourth still on for SportPesa Racing Point

Sergio Perez says SportPesa Racing Point can still finish fourth in the 2019 constructors' championship, but says the team must be prepared for the life-changing potential of 2021's regulation switch.

Last year's financial crisis, which saw the team become Racing Point from Force India after Lawrence Stroll's takeover, has been felt this season too, although the team are seventh in the team standings, despite seeing upgrades delayed at the start of the year.

Perez scored the team's best result of the season so far by finishing sixth in Azerbaijan, which put them into a season-high placing of fifth place, then just a point behind McLaren in fourth.

McLaren remain in that spot, but are now 41 points clear of racing Point. Perez, however, says the potential in the team is for even greater rewards.

Asked by GPFans when Racing Point can expect to return to their overachieving best, Perez said: "I think we should be making progress next year, but obviously the big momentum shift is for '21.

"We should be looking at that and trying to make a massive difference."

However, Perez does not rule out a successful second half of 2019 making a big impact: "We want to finish fourth. Things happen really quickly so it only takes a little bit of improvement.

"Until it's over, it's [not] over, but we are aiming to finish fourth. We can catch McLaren."

He added: We are already working on next year. So, we're trying to get on top of the issues and improve."

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