Sergio Perez says he hopes that Formula 1’s Bahrain Grand Prix was the lowest moment for Racing Point this season after it struggled throughout the weekend.
Racing Point spent every timed session at Bahrain mired in the second half of the field, qualifying 14th and 18th ahead of Sunday’s race.
After the sudden retirements of both Renault cars at the very start of lap 54, Perez was elevated up to 10th place, having fought among the midfield throughout the race.
When asked if Racing Point could expect to perform better in the next round at China, Perez said he hoped that Bahrain was the team’s lowest point of the year.
“I think this is the bottom for us, I hope this is the worst track in the season and I really hope this is the worst race for us.
“Last year we also struggled here, so I think to be where we are scoring a point is not a bad result.”
He added: “It was a good first lap and I gained a lot of positions.
“We lacked a bit of pace, for us the pace was not great, and overtaking here is quite easy so there was nothing we could really do.”
Perez’s 10th place finish brought Racing Point’s 2019 haul up to three points, adding to the two points team-mate Lance Stroll scored in Melbourne.
But Perez was adamant that without the safety car he would have been able to pass Alexander Albon by the end of the race.
Albon finished just ahead of Perez in ninth, scoring his first points in F1.
“In the end we were lucky with the Renaults, but a bit unlucky that we were so close to Albon and without the safety car I could have passed him.”
“These points at the end of the year make a massive difference so we just have to keep scoring as many as we possibly can while the car is as poor as it is at the moment.
“Hopefully, step-by-step we can keep improving the car.”