Sergio Perez says that a “fundamental issue” with Racing Point’s RP19 cost the team one-lap performance throughout the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Perez finished 10th in the Drivers' Championship, with 11 finishes inside of the points, though those top 10 achievements largely came from outside the front five rows of the grid.
Perez only made it through to Q3 on four occasions out of 21, while team-mate Lance Stroll was eliminated from Q1 14 times, with just the Williams drivers holding a worse record.
“I think qualifying hasn’t been as strong but race-pace has been very strong as usual,” said Perez.
“I think it’s some fundamental thing with the car, it’s been very difficult on new tyres. It’s been so bad you cannot improve.
“And it has been so much circuit-related this year, some we were strong and others we were really bad.
“That midfield group was so tight that two tenths in one sector would put you off.”
Perez dismissed suggestions that Racing Point was unnecessarily conservative with the design of its RP19, explaining that “we paid a price from a late change last year,” and expects gains in 2020.
“We just [need] to fundamentally improve the pace to be at least on par with the top four teams in that midfield group.
“If we are in a position to compete from the first race then it can look very different.”
Racing Point classified seventh in the Constructors' standings.
