Sergio Perez has confidence that his Sahara Force India F1 Team will pick a team-mate that will have the right attitude to help improve the team, as well as the speed to match.
The Mexican will have a new team-mate within the Silverstone-based team in 2017 after the departure to the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team of Nico Hülkenberg, and he is hoping for another quick team-mate in order to continue the positive momentum that is taking place within the team at present.
“I’m sure the team will make the best decision,” said Perez on Motorsport.com. “I just hope that whoever comes, comes with the right attitude. Obviously a quick driver and with the attitude to work together for the team.
“That makes a huge difference, because if you have a driver who is too far off the pace then you just don’t make the most out of the car, because you know that if you don’t have a good lap you can still beat your team-mate. I think for me it’s very important to have the fastest possible team-mate.”
Perez believes Hülkenberg is the best team-mate he has had in Formula 1 to date, and feels that both drivers push each other to bigger and better things, which in turn help the team improve.
“I worked with Nico for three years and I learned a lot from him and I’m looking forward to getting a new team-mate and learning new things from a new driver,” said Perez.
“I think our level on track was really closely matched and that means a lot to the team because we push the team forward and it benefits the team to have two drivers that are so closely matched together. That just helps the team. I’d say definitely Nico was the strongest team-mate I’ve had up to date in Formula 1.”
