SportPesa Racing Point's Sergio Perez believes that the best and worst driver in Formula 1 are only separated by three-tenths.
Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, the Mexican driver said it was hard for casual fans to understand why some teams are far slower than the leading trio and could therefore only fight for points and not podiums, and believes that can reflect badly on midfield drivers.
However Perez insists such is the level of talent in F1, that the best and worst drivers would only separated by fractions of a second if they were racing in the same car.
"It’s hard knowing that you are only coming here to fight for points," Perez told select media including Motorsport Week.
"You tell people that’s what you are fighting for and they call you a loser. But these people have no idea about [how] Formula 1 [works]. It's a team series, not a driver series.
"But I come here each race knowing that the level of drivers in the midfield is at its highest. You have fantastic drivers in the midfield who are very close.
"So to be able to make the difference and go home knowing you have done 100 per cent, no matter where you finish, you can relax.
"That’s my main motivation; to give 100 per cent and take the maximum available to me."
The 29-year-old is hopeful that 2021 will bring about big changes to put more focus on the driver rather than the car to produce a more level-playing field.
"Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, so we need to keep very high standards, but at the moment you have zero chance to beat the big teams because they have three times the money.
"It’s bad for the sport and bad for the drivers. You have fantastic drivers who have never had a single podium. That’s just crazy to hear.
"I always say the difference between the best and the worst driver is only three tenths. The difference between the best and the worst car is three seconds.
"So there is something fundamentally wrong. I really hope Formula 1 [bosses] are aware and want to improve the racing for everyone."
