Abu Dhabi: Force India driver Sergio Perez says that 2015 has probably been his best ever and most enjoyable season in Formula 1.
“The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. It’s probably been my best season in Formula 1 in terms of results and also the most enjoyable,” Perez said on Monday.
“We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.”
The Mexican driver is ninth in the drivers’ standings with 68 points. If he manages to finish ninth or even better, it will be his best ever finish in the sport. Importantly, he is also 16 points ahead of his teammate Nico Hulkenberg in the standings, who is 10th.
He also brought up the team’s best finish of the season, third at the Russian GP in October. The 25-year-old will now race at the 5.5-km Yas Marina Circuit at the year-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.
“Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit,” said Perez.
“We have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note.”
The Abu Dhabi weekend is special for Force India as it will mark the 150th race of the Silverstone-based team which entered Formula 1 in 2008.
Since then, the outfit, which is headed by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, has notched up three podium finishes and a pole position. Its lone pole position and best finish both came at the 2009 Belgian GP when Italian Giancarlo Fisichella started first and finished second.
“Heading to Abu Dhabi with fifth place in the championship already secured feels pretty good. It means we can approach the last weekend of the season free from pressure and with nothing to lose. Our focus is simply on enjoying the race and ending the season in style,” said Mallya on Monday.
“Abu Dhabi will be a special race for us as it marks the 150th of our history as Force India, and we will aim to celebrate it with a strong performance on the track.”
Force India also achieved another high in 2015, finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship — their best finish till date since coming into existence in 2008.
“All season I’ve been saying how proud I am of my team — particularly our development curve in the second half of the season. With 81 points from the last eight races we’ve enjoyed our best ever strike rate and we have been competitive at every race,” said the team principal.
“With stable regulations for 2016, there is every reason to believe we can carry this form through the winter and into the new season. There is plenty to be excited about and a lot of positive energy in the team. This weekend’s race is simply another chance to demonstrate how far we have come. Our aim will be to qualify in the top-10 and add a final helping of points to our tally,” concluded Mallya.
