Sergio Perez: We still have to improve our qualifying

Sergio Perez has continued to reiterate the fact that Sauber need to improve on their qualifying performance, even though the Hinwil-based outfit scored their best result of the season at last weekend’s German Grand Prix. Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez finished 4th and 6th respectively, bringing home 20 points.

However, the Sauber duo struggled during the wet qualifying hour. As the rain intervened throughout Q2, both Kobayashi and Perez were eliminated whereas midfield rivals such as Pastor Maldonado and the Force India duo progressed through to the all-important top 10 shoot out. Sergio Perez in particular has endured a disastrous run of qualifying results, with the Mexican driver failing to progress to Q3 since the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

“The Hungaroring is a very special track.” Explained Sergio Perez, “It is a bit like the Monaco street circuit with many changes of direction, and the middle sector is especially tricky. We still have to improve our qualifying performance to get better grid positions as, for one reason or another, it went wrong at the recent races. I am sure our car can be as good at the circuit in Budapest as it was in Hockenheim. I will give my utmost this coming weekend. I believe it will be important for the entire team to get in another good result in Hungary because we then disappear into the summer break and we should be able to do that in a positive mood.”

With the Sauber C31 already powering Sergio Perez to two podium finishes in 2012, a decent qualifying result could provide Perez with further opportunities for highly competitive results. As the Sauber outfit head to the Hungaroring, where overtaking is tougher than on most circuits, their qualifying performance will be exceedingly important if they wish to score decent points finish before the summer recess.

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