Racing Point’s rivals 'should be worried' says Perez, after accomplishing Q3 mission

Racing Point’s latest upgrades put them back in the top 10 in Germany on Friday – and on Saturday Sergio Perez delivered on his declared aim of returning the team to Q3 for the first time since April. And now he’s warned the team’s midfield rivals to watch their backs in Sunday’s race...

With his and team mate Lance Stroll’s RP19s featuring significant improvements for the Hockenheim round – with more to come next weekend in Hungary – Perez qualified an impressive eighth, Racing Point’s best showing since he took fifth on the grid in Azerbaijan.

“I think that’s a good boost for the team to mentally be back into contention,” said Perez, after finishing the top-10 shootout ahead of Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg and Charles Leclerc’s non-starting Ferrari. “All the way from Q1 to Q3, it’s been everything.”

Not that it was an entirely smooth ride for the Mexican, who added: “Q3 was very messy. For some reason I went quite a bit slower. I think we lost quite a bit of rear grip – I think the track picked up towards the end – and we were quite on the limit with the tyres, so in general I am pleased that we made it into Q3.”

Immediately ahead of him on Sunday’s grid will be drivers from three of Racing Point’s big midfield competitors – McLaren, Haas and Alfa Romeo. But Perez believes his improved machine will pose a threat to all of them in the 67-lap race.

“I think we’re in a good place for tomorrow – I think the people ahead of us should be worried, because we should have a good pace, no matter the conditions.

“I think pretty much everywhere we’ve done a good step forward. I think still we need a little one, but we’re talking about very little things, circuit related – mainly in the medium speed we’ve done a good step.”

Lance Stroll couldn’t match his more experienced colleague in the sister Racing Point, but the Canadian did at least get out of Q1 for the first time in 15 Grands Prix as he qualified 15th. Now Perez believes the team can seriously target moving back up the order from their current seventh in the constructor standings.

“It’s so tiny, the margins in the midfield,” he said. “A good two or three races in a row with both cars can change your life, so we’re definitely aiming for fourth.”