Force India positive despite di Resta penalty & Hulkenberg issue

Force India have remained positive despite several negatives throughout the qualifying hour ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with Paul di Resta set to incur a 5-place grid penalty and Nico Hulkenberg failing to set a time due to a fuel pressure issue. These setbacks aside, the team are confident after a competitive weekend so far.

Although Paul di Resta will start tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix from 9th on the grid after being issued a 5-place grid drop for a gearbox change, the Scot has remained upbeat after showing decent pace at the sharp end of the field. Paul di Resta ended the final practice session prior to qualifying 3rd overall, only two tenths off the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton. This pace was then visible once again in qualifying, as di Resta ended the top-ten shootout 4th.

“I’m very happy with my Q3 lap, which was my quickest lap so far – so we maximized it when it mattered.” Explained Paul di Resta, “I think the entire team has done an excellent job to get us in this position – we’ve trusted our instincts and just worked away at dialing the car into the track. I knew I was going to have a grid penalty for the gearbox change, which is frustrating, but at least I will start inside the top ten. The challenge now is to make sure we have the race pace and use the strategy to come away with points.”

Nico Hulkenberg could’ve made it a perfect qualifying session for Force India, however the German driver suffered a mechanical issue only moments into the opening session of qualifying. This means Nico Hulkenberg will start tomorrow’s race from 24th and last on the grid, after being unable to set a timed lap during the session. However, the 25-year-old German remans positive, as he aims to scythe his way through the field during the race.

“A very short and disappointing session for me.” Said Nico Hulkenberg, “I was about to start my first timed lap in Q1 when I suddenly lost drive. I pulled over at the first chicane and the team told me to switch off the car. It’s a shame this happened on a day when the car looks so competitive, but that’s racing. Starting so far back tomorrow will be tough, but I will try and push through so that we can hopefully come away with something from the race.”

Force India enjoyed a relatively competitive race last time out in Belgium, where Nico Hulkenberg finished a career best 4th and Paul di Resta finished 10th. The Silverstone-based outfit will be eager to replicate such success tomorrow, on a circuit which has benefited the team in the past.

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