Sahara Force India F1 Team driver Sergio Perez believes drivers will have their work cut out with the new 2017 machines, and likened the step up in physical demands, being like moving from a GP2 car to the might of F1.
Speaking during the launch of Force India’s VJM10 at Silverstone yesterday, the Mexican commented on how fitness will play a much more crucial role this season.
“It looks demanding physically. It will be a nice challenge and put all the drivers into a massive stress so I am looking forward to it.
“I had to start quite early working on my physical [fitness] – the new generation of cars being so much faster is like going from GP2 to F1. It’s another step.
“Basically it will be a lot more demanding, the G-forces in the races we will develop with these cars are quite high; I have worked quite a lot in all these aspects.
“You have to have endurance and strength, and working in many different areas, you have to be strong and have the reaction [to be] ready for anything, so we do a lot of neck exercises, a lot of training and endurance – cycling and running, all kinds of things.”
Force India had their best season on record last year, winning an epic battle with Williams Martini Racing throughout the season to finish fourth in the constructors standings, whilst Perez also had a bumper year, with two podium finishes.
The Mexican is certain he will achieve even more in 2017, with a team he believes has the potential to keep on getting better, and having performed way above expectations in 2016, one he now feels extremely confident in.
“It makes me feel very confident that I have never seen such a stable organisation.
“It makes me feel very confident, knowing the right people have been working very hard – we started the season more or less okay, then we became fourth fastest.
“I expect to have a very good year with the team.”
