Perez : Its time of optimization not for rivalry

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Sauber rookie Sergio Perez says he is not paying any attention to his lap-times at this stage in the build-up to his maiden Formula 1 season.

Though the GP2 graduate has set a respectable pace in his first three tests, he feels the actual times are irrelevant at present.

"I am not really into [testing] times," Perez said in an interview with the official F1 website. "What I want is to develop myself and develop the car and that makes us focus on ourselves - not looking at others.

"As we approach the end of the season, I want to be able to congratulate myself that I've learnt a lot and that I've scored all the points that came my way."


Perez believes the 2011 rule changes will put him on a more equal level to the rest of the field for his rookie F1 season.

The 21-year-old Mexican says that rather than his acclimatisation to F1 being made more difficult by the new tyres, return of KERS and introduction of the moveable rear wing, the changes could work to his advantage.

"In many fields everybody starts from zero," he said.

But Perez also acknowledged the challenge he faces: "But then never underestimate experience. The ability to adjust to new situations is much easier when you know the general environment, whereas I have to learn the new bits and parts and the environment."

Perez has only completed six test days so far and admits he still has a lot to learn so may have to rely on team-mate Kamui Kobayashi.

"The key word for me is learning," he said. "Kamui has been involved in Formula 1 for some years as a test driver, so I think I will be able to learn from him."