Perez: F1 needs to change 'massively' or risks losing drivers

Amid plans to overhaul F1's rules for 2021, Perez believes the championship has taken a wrong path in recent years because the impact that a driver has on results has become less and less.

Perez admitted to his frustrations with the situation, and suggested that if things do not change dramatically in two years' time then he could lose interest in carrying on.

"I think what F1 has to do is to make this a drivers' championship instead of a team championship," Perez said when asked by Autosport about potential changes for 2021.

"Over the last years it has got worse and at the moment it is just a team's championship, it is not a drivers' championship.

"It is everything related to your car potential, which is a big shame for the sport, for the drivers.

"There are fantastic drivers who will probably never have the opportunity to stand on the podium due to the lack of competitiveness that you get through your career.

"I think it is a fundamental issue and F1 has to change massively.

"I am really looking forward to the 2021 rules to see if that happens because I've been too long [like this].

"I don't want to be any longer in a championship that is teams related, so hopefully the drivers in the future can do a bit more to make the difference."

Perez said he takes little satisfaction coming to races at the moment knowing that even a podium finish is unlikely unless there is major trouble for the top teams.

"Imagine how frustrating it is to come here knowing that you are fighting to be best of the rest," he said.

"People struggle to understand, but it is not like tennis or golf where you have some equipment but it is up to the tennis player or the golf player to deliver.

"You go there and you don't know where you are going to finish.

"Here you come and everyone knows more or less where you are going to finish.

"So that is something that has to change dramatically in the sport to make it better, otherwise it will be a massive problem for the future.

"The people in charge of the rules are trying hard to give all the teams the same opportunities.

"Obviously they are fantastic teams and so on, but I think one of the big issues is resources.

"You are competing with teams that have three or four times more resources than you, and it has been like that for many years.

"Make more standard cars. Keep the technology in place to keep attracting manufacturers which F1 needs, but we want to see the best driver winning - not the best car.

"For me as a fan and as a driver it is what I want from F1 very soon. Otherwise, it gets less interesting."