Sergio Perez has suggested that Force India should expect a challenge from Formula 1 debutants Haas in 2016.
The new North American outfit signed a multi-year deal to run Ferrari engines, and have recruited Romain Grosjean from Lotus and Ferrari test driver Esteban Gutierrez.
However, Perez is hoping that Force India can finish ahead of Haas, and even close the gap on Williams, Red Bull and Mercedes.
He told Auto Motor und Sport: "We want to keep improving. This is a huge task for a small team like us, this.
"We must take major steps to get on the level of Williams or Red Bull, and I expect next year some of our opponents will also be better than this season - McLaren, for example, and Toro Rosso.
"And we must also not underestimate Haas F1. They're not really a new team. With their connection to Ferrari, they will be a challenge from the start."
Force India finished fifth in the 2015 constructors' championship.
