Force India: An Aggressive Strategy Leads Perez to the Podium
Few people had bet on a podium finish for Sergio Perez before the race. Yet the Mexican defied all predictions to claim the fifth podium of his career, and the third in Force India's history.
As usual, Sergio Perez made the difference in the race thanks to his excellent tire management. The former Sauber driver only stopped once in the pits, on lap 12, taking advantage of the Safety Car’s appearance. At the end of the race, he couldn’t hold off the comeback of Bottas and Räikkönen, but the squabbles between the two Finns ultimately allowed him, against all odds, to reclaim third place.
Sergio Perez returns to the podium for the first time since Bahrain 2014, and such honors were clearly missed: « It’s a great feeling to be back on the podium and celebrate it with my team. (…) They called me very well to the pits when the safety car came out, and that allowed us to fight away from the other drivers. One lap before the finish, when Valtteri and Kimi overtook me, it felt like a good result was being taken from me: I was obviously disappointed but I also knew I had given everything during the race. There was nothing else to do because I was on the same set of tires for 40 laps. When I finally managed to get back into the top three, it was really an incredible feeling. »
Robert Fernley, the Deputy Team Principal, also highlighted the relevance of the team’s strategy: “We must pay tribute to the team after a remarkable performance and a perfect strategy. Bringing Sergio in under the safety car was an aggressive decision, but it paid off. We knew we would be under pressure towards the end, but maintaining a position at the front was crucial and the events at the end of the race ultimately justified our decision.”
Nico Hülkenberg will unfortunately not receive the same media attention this Sunday. The German driver did not see the end of the first lap after spinning out alone. He did not shy away from admitting his faults after the race: « Unfortunately, I locked the wheels at turn 2, and when that happens, you just end up spinning. I hoped that the whole field would pass without touching me, but unfortunately, Ericsson came and touched me and I couldn’t get going again. The first lap is always something unique: I didn’t brake too late, but with cold tires, the situation is always perilous and once the tires lock, there’s nothing you can do to recover. »
In the constructors’ standings, Force India clearly consolidates its fifth place and now holds a 26-point lead over Lotus.
