Sergio Pérez says it will be “important” to overhaul Renault rival Nico Hülkenberg at the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to boost his prospects of a strong result.
Pérez, having been frustrated by his former team-mate in Q2, made it through to Q3, where he set the eighth-best time, edging Esteban Ocon, but unable to lap quicker than Hülkenberg.
Pérez is optimistic that he can leap Renault’s Hülkenberg during the opening stages of the race.
“I am quite happy with our result tonight, even though I cannot be totally satisfied after missing seventh place by just a tenth,” he said.
“We were able to clear Q1 with just one lap, but Q2 was slightly more complicated. Nico compromised my warm-up lap: it was something unnecessary and it completely ruined both our laps.
“Thankfully it didn’t affect our final result and we still made it to Q3. In the final part of qualifying, my first lap wasn’t very good, so I had to deliver on the second attempt.
“Tomorrow should be an interesting race because the middle of the grid is always very close.
“It will be important to pass Hulkenberg at the start or during the first lap, because overtaking can be a challenge.
“If we don’t manage to do it, I am confident we can use the strategy to make our way through.”
Ocon admitted he was “annoyed” to qualify ninth, having believed that seventh was within his and Force India’s reach.
“I’m not totally satisfied with our session today because I think we could have been higher up the grid,” he said.
“I think seventh place was realistic, but the traffic didn’t go our way today and there were a few other things that I didn’t’ maximise.
“It’s always a difficult qualifying session here with the temperatures dropping and you have to work hard to get the tyres in the right operating window.
“I’m just annoyed I didn’t show the true pace of the car, but it’s only Saturday and the race is what really counts.”
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