Perez: ‘We’re two steps behind’

Force India driver Sergio Pérez has admitted that they are two steps behind their rivals, as they head into the new season.

Force India unveiled their new car during the third, and final, pre-season test and they ran for only two days, whereas their rivals did 12.

He told reporters: "We only had two days, that is the reality and we cannot hide it. We are on the back foot due to limited running. But it is a promising start and we have to take the best out of the situation.

"It will take a couple of races to get where we want to be and there is a lot of work ahead of us. I think we are a couple of steps behind the competition."

Perez and his team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, are expecting a tough start to the new season but the Mexican insists that he is optimistic.

He added: "We have a clear direction on what we need to work on. Aero departments are really working well together on the weaknesses of this car, and that is positive.

"I have been in this situation before with McLaren where it took us up to the fifth race to realise where we were and to know the numbers.

"Now to do that on the second day of testing is an impressive effort from the team and now we have to work hard to get to the level that we want to be."

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