Force India: Both VJM03s in the top 10

Discreet but very present, the Force India. Since the start of the season, except in China, each race has seen one of the two drivers from the Indian team finish in the top 10.
In Monaco, it was the two VJM03s which entered the points to the delight of the boss, thereby obtaining the best overall result for the team since its debut in F1 in 2008.

“I am absolutely delighted with this result, affirmed Dr Vijay Mallya after the Monegasque event. At the start of the season we said we wanted to score points regularly, and so far that is exactly what we have managed to do. But there, with two cars, it?s a real step forward. Adrian and Tonio had brilliant races, remaining focused despite the appearance of the safety car and the yellow flags. They really deserved their points. It's very nice to see us staying at this level, with bigger teams. We will try to take advantage of this result in order to be even stronger in Turkey.

Satisfaction is also essential on the drivers’ side. On a circuit that he likes, Adrian Sutil did not manage to do better than twelfth in qualifying. But the next day, thanks in particular to an impeccable start, his No. 03 VJM 14 took the checkered flag in eighth position, just ahead of the sister car entrusted to Vitantonio Liuzzi.

“It was a great race for us, declares the German pilot. I was 12th on the starting grid but we had a great start allowing me to gain two positions on the first lap. We then had a good refueling from which I came out ninth, then I did my race. I experienced a solo race, with a significant gap between the car preceding me and the one following me. Ninth (then eighth after the penalty of Michael Schumacher, editor's note) and a few points, we can only be satisfied after the result of the qualifications.

Next step, the Turkish Grand Prix, on May 30. A round where Force India will once again try to score big points in order to maintain its sixth position in the constructors' championship. Renault seems difficult to approach, as for Williams, their closest pursuer, they are far behind.

Find the full report of the Monaco Grand Prix in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands tomorrow.