Perez wants to "sign off this era" with fourth in drivers' standings

Sergio Perez has said he wants to "sign off this era on a high" with fourth in the drivers' championship as he prepares for what could be his final three F1 races.

The Mexican driver, who finished second at the last race in Turkey, will be replaced by Sebastian Vettel at Racing Point next year and is yet to find a seat with another team.

Red Bull could be an option, if Alex Albon cannot do enough to keep his seat, but Perez is focusing on racing hard to top a tight battle for fourth in an effort to secure his future.

"There is definitely a great atmosphere in the team right now," he said. "We want to be fighting for podiums and the chance to sign off this era on a real high for the team and myself.

"I also want to fight for P4 in the drivers’ championship and we managed to take that position after a great result in Turkey. That gives me confidence going into Bahrain and Abu Dhabi."

Perez jumped Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Renault's Daniel Ricciardo to climb from sixth to fourth in the drivers' standings at the last race and enjoys a three-point margin at the front of that pack.

The main battle across the year has been the fight for third in the constructors' championship, a battle Racing Point currently leads by five points from McLaren.

The Bahrain circuit holds positive memories for Perez, as he finished third in just his third race for the team, then Force India, and he recalled: “It was a very special moment in my career.

"It’s incredible to think it happened in only my third race with the team. It’s amazing to think that we’ve scored five more podiums together since that day. It’s always a great feeling to revisit the circuit and remember 2014.”

Before you go...

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