Perez encouraged despite accident

The 21-year-old Mexican has covered 150 laps of the Spanish track over the last two days and says he is getting to grips with his Sauber C30.

"I have got so far good mileage to understand the car, the tyres and which way we need to work," Perez said. "I'm getting better with the feedback I'm giving, and also how to drive - how to change my driving style when it's required.

"I am getting better every time I jump in the car. I'm gaining experience - I know more what the car needs, how to maximise a bit more the different compounds, the understanding and communication with my race engineer. So this is the positive side, I feel I'm getting ready for the start of the season."

Perez conceded that today's accident was his error, which happened while he was trying to push to evaluate set-up changes to the car.

"I just lost the rear into Turn 7 and there was nothing I could do," he said. "There was nothing wrong with the car, my mistake.

"I tried to be too optimistic. Every time I go in the car I try to be on the limit to feel the changes and to drive the same way. I just gave my maximum today and it happened that I had a crash."

He has used both Sauber's moveable rear wing and KERS and reports no problems adjusting to the systems.

"We are using the rear wing quite a lot for performance," he added. "Once you get used to it, it's not a problem. The KERS has been good too, no problems using it or with the brakes."