We look a bit more competitive, building a fair bit on Bahrain: Fernley of Force India
Shanghai, 14 April 2018: Sahara Force India who began the year with zero points as both the cars finished outside top-ten in Australia recovered to get a point in the second GP at Bahrain with Esteban Ocon managing to slide into top-ten after senior teammate Sergio Perez crashed out early.
At the third GP in China, the team managed to qualify P8 and P12, with Perez taking the lead with his VJM 11-02 setting 1:32.758 in Q3.
Sergio Perez said: “I am very pleased with our performance today as a team. My Q3 lap was very strong and I feel that we really maximised qualifying. The wind was very tricky because it changed completely from yesterday and I knew it could offer us an opportunity. Q2 was quite close and I made it through at the last attempt, and in Q3 we only did one flying lap, which was enough for P8. I am pleased we are so close to our rivals and I hope we can stay in that mix and come out on top of the midfield group tomorrow. The strategy will be interesting because starting on the UltraSoft may not be ideal, but we will try and make it work. We are feeling positive: we are getting closer and closer with every race, understanding more about our car and unlocking its performance.”
Esteban Ocon who failed to make it to Q3 said: “I’m not totally satisfied with today because I’d prefer to be starting further up the grid. The difference between making Q3 and not was just over a tenth, which I probably lost in the final corner with a small mistake. It shows just how close everybody is in the midfield. It’s a shame to miss out on Q3, but on the positive side I can start the race with a free choice of tyres. The targettomorrow is to score points again.”
Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal, said: “We’ve looked a bit more competitive here, building on the progress we made in Bahrain, and I think today’s result is a fair reflection of where we stand at the moment. The team is working hard to improve the car session by session and we’re seeing the result of all those efforts. Sergio’s lap in Q3 was excellent and eighth place on the grid presents a good opportunity to score points. Esteban has been matching Sergio all weekend and was unlucky to miss out on Q3 today. Starting outside the top ten gives him some more freedom with tyre strategy tomorrow which could play into his hands.”
