Force India relies on pace in long stints to catch up

Free practice day augured a tough qualifying for Force India. There was no shortage of it, with the two pink cars ejected from the top 10. Sergio Pérez (1’24”005) nevertheless managed to record the 13th time, whileEsteban Ocon brought up the rear of Q2 in 15th place (1’24”786).

For the latter, Saturday came down to “a difficult session, especially in Q2. » “I really struggled with the front end of the car as well as problems with wheel locks, not to mention the traffic problem. The lack of running during the last free practice session on a dry track was also detrimental. »

“The race pace will be better tomorrow and I think we can aim for a points finish, continues the Frenchman. It’s just one of those races where you just have to finish it to have a good opportunity to score a good result. »

Sergio Pérez spoke of " disappointment " to miss the mark of the top 10. “I think the result is a reflection of our performance at the moment. We thought we had a chance of getting into Q3, but what really matters is the race. The additional DRS zone will offer more overtaking opportunities and it is an event where the safety car intervenes very regularly. » The Mexican thought exactly the opposite arriving in Australia!

The lower performance is due to the new aerodynamic package introduced the day before according to Robert Fernley, Force India Team Principal. “It’s not a huge surprise not to be in Q3. We are still in the learning phase with the package. He gives performance but we know that there is a lot of potential to be found in the Grands Prix to come. I hope to be able to show our efficient pace in the long relay on Sunday, and score points like we did a year ago. »