'We're very hungry and very successful: Sergio Perez Mendoza

You've had three podium finishes before with Sauber since your Formula One debut in 2011. Where do you rate this one?
I think definitely this was one of my best and most special races because I had to fight my way back, fight against Nico (Hulkenberg), Daniel (Ricciardo). This podium means a lot to me after the difficulties I had at McLaren. Leaving the team at the end of the (2013) season and being able to fight my way back and put the car in the podium is something really special for me. I don't know if it's my best race, but it's surely one of my best races in Formula One.

This is Force India's best start to a season. Were you expecting results so soon after a disappointing year with McLaren last year?
After I left McClaren, I really had very few options and one of them was Force India. So I wanted to come and do my best for this team. I was really hoping to have some good results. I left McClaren because I never really had the opportunity to fight for the podium since my time with Sauber. So I'm very happy with this.

The McLaren snub put you in a really difficult situation. And the podium finish meant Force India knocked off your former employer to third in the constructors' standings. That must've been even more satisfying, isn't it?
Yes. It makes me really proud to be a part of Force India because it's a small team, which is doing a great job. We're very hungry and very successful. I'm really happy to be a part of this team.

Force India's last podium finish was way back in 2009. What do you think is going right this season, and what do you think needs improvement?
We have the best engine right now – Mercedes. We cannot forget we're beating the other two teams, McClaren and Williams, which have the same engine too. So I think we're really doing something good. We've had a good start to the season, but we need to keep improving and working hard to be able to keep the momentum going and really be successful. On this (Bahrain) track, we had a good advantage because of the engine. I don't think we have the best car, it has some room to improve. So we need to look forward and keep developing the car. If we do that, I think we can have a great season.

Everyone's talking about the new and quieter V6 engine. From a drivers' perspective, what do you feel about that, along with the double points system?
The sound is something we all miss. But this is the way Formula One had to go. So I think we need to respect it and enjoy it. I think the race we saw this Sunday was extremely good.
The double points system will make things really interesting. I'm really looking forward to try and make the best of it.

What's next for Force India, and you personally?
Shanghai! Looking forward, I think we're in a really good position as a team to have a great year. We need to capitalise on this and put everything together for that.

Know Perez
Full name: Sergio Perez Mendoza
Nickname: Checo
Date of Birth: 26/01/1990
Nationality: Mexican
Team: Force India
Podiums: 4
Points : 145
Grands Prix entered: 62
World Championships: 0
Highest race finish : 2
Highest grid position: 4

Checo's F1 journey so far
2011
Makes F1 debut with Sauber at Australian GP, finishing seventh before car is disqualified on technical grounds. Scores first points in Spain. Misses Monaco after a horrific qualifying crash. Also misses Canadian GP. But is retained by Sauber after impressing in subsequent races.

2012
Best season in terms of results, with podium finishes in Malaysia (2nd) and Canada (3rd). However, they are followed by some disappointing results elsewhere. Has a second-place finish in Italy, and signs up for McLaren for 2013.

2013
Has a rather quiet start to his new car. Finishes sixth in Bahrain, racing wheel-to-wheel with teammate Jenson Button, who calls it "dirty". Results stop showing after that, with only a fifth place finish in India noteworthy. Leaves McLaren in November, and confirms move to Force India for 2014.