Sergio Perez tips Force India to fight for Formula 1 fourth place

After finishing a best-ever fifth overall in 2015, 51 points shy of Red Bull and 121 behind Williams, the Mexican believes the team can take another step next year.

"Finishing off the season the way we did provides us with a much stronger platform for next year," said Perez.

"We're expecting other teams to move up. You don't know what will happen with Lotus/Renault, McLaren-Honda, those kind of teams, but we expect them to be up there fighting us.

"There is a lot of hope we can do better than fifth next season.

"I understand to move up to fourth is a big ask, but we have to be aiming for Red Bull and Williams.

"But I believe in the team and believe it can be a fantastic season next year."

Perez goes into 2016 on a high after a strong finish to the 2015 campaign, a season he considers to be his best since arriving in F1 with Sauber in 2011.

"It was a pretty good year," said Perez on reflection.

"Of course the year at Sauber in 2012 when I scored three podiums, was great.

"But the consistency I've shown this year, the way I've driven, that has been more important than results or scoring more points than ever in a Formula 1 season.

"The most important thing is the level I managed to achieve in terms of driving, in terms of confidence, experience. It was my best season so far.

"A major contributor to that was knowing the team, having a good atmosphere around me."