The Racing Point RP19 is sporting a host of new parts for this weekend’s German Grand Prix including a revised engine cover, modified sidepods and new vented mirrors.

Sergio Perez said the new bodywork is intended to improve the car’s rear-end grip, which has been its most significant weakness so far this year. “We’re trying to bring balance to the car to try to clear some of the deficits in terms of balance,” he said. “We hope that this first step can bring us a bit of that.”

Racing Point’s development of its 2019 has been compromised by the fact it was originally designed when the team was in administration. “We started a bit late, on the back foot, and it’s been hard to recover that ground,” Perez admitted.

“We basically brought the new car to Melbourne, so we started really learning from the car, and then upgrades haven’t worked as well as we thought at the time. So we [are] just in the process of learning and improving.

“Saying that I think we’re not that far from ideal in terms of competition to. For example McLaren which is dominating the midfield, I think a couple of steps will bring us back in contention.”

The team’s last major upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix did not produce the required results, but Perez believes the team now has “a pretty good understanding” of its car. “Now that we have a new upgrade it’s always important to have a good track mileage in it,” he added.

Racing Point is tied for seventh place in the constructors’ championship with Toro Rosso and Perez says the team needs to be more competitive over the coming races.

“It’s a very critical part of the season,” he said. “We have to score big points in the next races, especially given that it hasn’t been a great year up to now.

“But we are not far from the competition so I think a good couple of races can bring us back in contention.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2019 F1 season