Perez: Racing Point low mileage due to limited parts

Sergio Perez says Racing Point is having to be conservative with its mileage at Formula 1 pre-season testing as the team has a shortage of extra parts as it focuses on an upgrade package which will be delivered at the season opener.

Racing Point notched up the second smallest total of laps at the first pre-season test at Circuit de Catalunya with 248 laps between Perez and new teammate Lance Stroll – only ahead of Williams on 88 laps following its delays on track action.

Perez accepts the low mileage is the team’s choice due to its limited spare parts as it concentrates on dialling in the RP19 car ahead of a hefty upgrade package set to debut in Australia at the 2019 opening round.

“Because we’re having massive package upgrade for Melbourne, but we are very limited on parts as in the past,” Perez said. “Right now you’re going to see low mileage from us, simply because we’re short on parts, we don’t want to risk it too much.

“The most important for us is to understand what’s going on with the balance, how we can make it better, how I can be more comfortable. I think on that regard we did good progress.”

The Mexican driver concedes he’d prefer more laps in the RP19 but, with 97 laps to his name in Barcelona across the first test which is just under one-and-a-half race distances, but is willing to take the short-term pain for a greater return in Australia.

“Obviously I would like more mileage, more running,” he said. “But so far it was all we’ve got.

“We knew coming here it’s going to be difficult with mileage with the package we have at the moment. We’re just working flat out to try to dial in the set up with what we’re doing. Hopefully we can get a lot better.”