Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes S🍃ergio Perez is Formula 1’s “most underrated driver” and🥂 feels it is “criminal” that he has been overlooked by top teams. 

Perez, who claimed his and Force India’s first podium in two years in a crazy Azerbaij🍸an Grand Prix, has been a consistent performer for the Silverstone-based squad since moving to the team in 2014 following a tricky one-year spell a✱t McLaren. 

The Mexican’s third-place finish in Baku marked his eighth career podium in F1, while he single-handedly scored over 200 points as the team secur꧋ed back-to-back fourth place finishes in the constructors’ standings in 2016 and 2017.  

"I feel for Sergio in many ways beca🌌use I think he is possibly the most underrated F1 driver out there," Fernꦫley told Sky Sports. "As a racer he's amazing and, not that we would ever want to lose him, but I think it's criminal that he's been overlooked.”

Perez has been linked with a Ferrari seat in the past, and with Kimi Raikkonen’s contract expiring at the end of the current season, he could be considered by the Maranel🙈lo outfit. 

"I think everybody wants to go to Ferrari,” Fernley added. “To wear the red overalls is💞 a gr🉐eat privilege.”

Speaking to Sky after the race, Perez added he is yet to show his full pote𝓡ntial in the sport and believes he would be ready for another shot at onℱe of F1’s leading teams. 

"I still feel that there is so much more I can ꦛdo in the sport," Perez said. "I also feel that my time will come because ♏I work really hard, I really put my effort in to have an opportunity and I feel I deserve to have a car to show my full potential.

"Th൩ere hasn't been an opportunity or vacancy in the top teams. If you want to do something in Formula 1 you really have to be in one of those teams."