Perez welcomes 2017 rule change plans

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, the Force India racer said that mid-race refuelling and more aggressive cars should benefit the sport.

“I think we’re in a position in the sport where we need more variation at the front, and everything that we can do to help that is very welcome from everyone,” said Perez.

“I’ve never experienced refuelling and we’ll have to look carefully at the costs, so it doesn’t basically screw all the small teams, but everything that’s been proposed to improve the sport, I think we should welcome it.”

When asked if he would prefer the shorter stints, which should increase the scope for flat-out driving, he replied: “Yeah, definitely, as a racing driver you like to push all the time.

“If that’s the case, you’ll still have to manage your tyres, if you make 10 laps with low fuel you’ll still have to do some tyre saving. But if it helps the show for the fans then it’ll be a good thing.”

Not pleased with Swimming Pool move

Perez was less happy with the barrier alteration at the Swimming Pool chicane, Turns 15 and 16, where the kerb now stands alone from the Armco.

“I don’t know if I really like it,” he said. “I really liked the apex to the wall. If you did a mistake, you paid for it. You saw it a couple of times, drivers apexing too early and breaking the suspension.

“It’s just one of those things you have in Monaco, if you make a mistake you pay for it and it’s expensive. I’ll wait and see what it’s like to drive, but my initial thought is I don’t like it.”