Force India denies trading safety for speed

Force India has denied compromising safety in the close fight for fifth in this year’s constructors’ world championship.

At present, the Silverstone team holds the coveted fifth place, but only by mere points ahead of Lotus and Toro Rosso.

Force India introduced a more competitive ’B spec’ car at Silverstone recently, but in Hungary it suffered two structural failures — both with spectacular and dangerous results.

A suspension problem in practice pitched Sergio Perez into a roll, while teammate Nico Hulkenberg speared into the barriers in the race when his front wing folded underneath the car.

Germany’s Bild newspaper asked Otmar Szafnauer, the team’s sporting director, if Force India has let its safety standards slip in the crucial championship battle.

"We do not play with safety," he insisted. "We showed that on Friday, when we didn’t let Hulkenberg out until we knew exactly what was the reason for Perez’s crash.

"This must not happen again," Szafnauer added.