Abudhabi GP - Friday Practice - Force India Quotes

Sergio Perez
FP1 - 8th, FP2 - 3rd
“Today has been a good start to our race weekend, despite the brake issue we experienced in the evening session. The first session is not very representative of race conditions here, because the track temperatures are much higher than you would have in the evening, so we took the opportunity to try a few test parts that will help us in the development of next year's car. FP2 was a very positive session: I felt comfortable in the car from the start and the changes we made worked well. Our long run programme was interrupted by the brake issue, but we have plenty of data from Nico's runs that we can analyse tonight. The baseline set-up we worked on is already quite good, so we're in good shape for tomorrow."
Nico Hulkenberg
FP1 - 6th, FP2 - 8th
“I’m feeling pretty happy with a successful day and lots of laps under our belt. In the morning we had a busy programme with several test items and future development work, which went to plan and gave us a lot of information. The afternoon was straightforward with no issues and our one-lap performance looks quite competitive. There is still room to improve with our long runs so we need to do our homework tonight and understand what we can change for tomorrow. Overall I’m feeling positive about our performance today.”
Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer

“The car has been working well straight out of the box and both drivers were happy with the baseline balance, which allowed us to push ahead with an extensive test programme to gather data with a view to next year. The cooler temperatures in the second session were much more representative of what we expect for qualifying and the race, and both Nico and Sergio remained happy with the balance and the changes we made between the sessions. We look quite competitive, but the margins between all the teams are very small. Sergio lost some track time towards the end of the second session with a left rear brake issue, the cause of which we are still investigating. It means he missed out on doing a long run with the option tyre, but fortunately Nico completed a full programme so we have enough information to analyse this evening.”

Formula1.com

Nico Hulkenberg Q&A: Perez's blistering form a headache

There has been plenty to celebrate for Nico Hulkenberg and Force India this year, not least securing the team's best ever championship placing. Hulkenberg, though hasn't had it all his own way: Sergio Perez's late-season surge means the German faces finishing second to a team mate for the first time since his maiden F1 campaign in 2010. Speaking exclusively to Formula1.com, Hulkenberg talks team mate battles, why he is still waiting for his 'big break', and what rumours of an Aston Martin-Force India tie-up might mean for his future... 

 

Q: When you say you leave out the bad moments and take only the good ones, what were the bad moments? And what was good?
NH: The second half of the year was a bit mixed, to say the least. There have been some hiccups and races that didn't go to plan so obviously you could learn from them and erase these kinds of errors.

Q: If you look at 2015 you've sometimes made mistakes in best rookie fashion...
NH: ...thank you for the flowers! (laughs)

Q: Have you been too hungry, did you want to force matters?
NH: Maybe. I am not sure. You are trying hard and sometimes things don't work out the way you wanted. In the end I think it was some sort of chain reaction. There were two or three races where twice in a row I had technical issues - and there was a driver error - and three or four bad races in a row means things don't go in your favour. That's especially true if your team mate has a strong run at the same time.

Q: How irritating is it when you are struggling and your team mate is on a high?
NH: It's not fun, believe me! But actually I was not too bothered because I knew the facts and many times when he scored and I didn't I was ahead of him, so I knew I could match him or even do better - but for certain reasons it didn't happen. I would say 'annoying' is the right word. It was annoying me. That's it.

Q: So you don't throw anything against the wall in your hotel room?
NH: I do...

Q: You are 10th in the standings – last year you finished in P9. Checo, your team mate, is 14 points ahead. To overhaul that, you'd need a podium here in Abu Dhabi. Ready for it? 
NH: That sounds like a target doesn't it? But to be clear: here everything is about the championship – who wins and who comes in second. Then it is nice to be in the top ten, but that's about it.

Q: Doesn't a single-digit number read better than a double digit?
NH: For sure single digit reads better. So yes, as I said: that looks like a real target for finishing the season in style.

Q: You are one of the most respected drivers in the paddock, but still you are chasing the a big break. If you reflect on your six years in F1, have any decisions led you away from the sort of careers Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel or Nico Rosberg have enjoyed?
NH: I think my first season in F1 in 2010, especially the end of it - the exit from Williams. Losing a regular race seat was sort of moment when things went wrong. That was a cut, a dip in the career. Without that who knows what could have happened. Yes, that is all past now but I still believe it was a decisive experience.

Q: Was that the kind of moment where you thought everything would go wrong?
NH: It was the kind of moment where everything went the way I didn't want it to go. It is not a good thing for a rookie to lose a race seat after the first season. That is definitely not ideal as it is the time where you still have to keep on learning – so to then be sidelined is hard to swallow. 

Q: Is there a driver you would love to have as team mate?
NH: Not really. Probably the weakest one! That's a joke!

Q: Force India are having their best season to date, on a relatively small budget. Boss Vijay Mallya always speaks about the special vibes of the team contributing to a big portion of the success. Can you say what these special vibes are for you?
NH: Vijay brings many of these vibes to the team on the sole basis of his personality - of the person Vijay is. He is a real character and a really cool guy, and he lives that! You feel that kind of special person that he is every time he is at a race, and that shows in the team. We have a great environment. It is very professional - but at the same time Force India is a relaxed and fun place to be. The team spirit is extraordinary.

Q: From rumours you wouldn't make the grid in Australia to P5 in the constructors' championship - that's some rise. What do you say to those who wrote-off Force India  at the start of the year?
NH: (Thumbing his nose) This - but I cannot put that into words! I am well educated! (laughs) 

Q: There are rumours in the paddock about a tie-up between Force India and Aston Martin. Can you dream of what that would mean - apart from a nice road car...
NH: It sounds good - but in the end that is all very premature and what it would mean in hyping up technology I have no idea. Everything I would say is speculation so I better not do it. 

Q: Vijay indicated that the team have even more ambitions plans after securing fifth this year, What is your outlook for next season?
NH: Wins! Anything else would be disappointing! (laughs) Of course, I am joking. Yes, we are optimistic - but realistic as well. I think we have put ourselves in a really good position; now we have to make something out of it. We have to build on the platform we have with the B-spec car and keep developing it in the right direction. The priority is to close the gap to the front-running teams and go for better results. Points and podiums - that's what it is all about. We are pushing for that, but at the same time we know that success doesn't come from nowhere. So hard work is in the end the answer to that - and a bit of luck. But from the development we've seen with the B-spec I am positive that we are moving in the right direction. I have confidence and faith!

Formula1.com

 

 

AbuDhabi GP - Preview - Force India quotes

Sergio Perez
“The 2015 season has gone by so quickly, but I have lots of great memories and I’m very proud of what we have achieved. I think it’s probably been my best season in Formula One in terms of results and also the most enjoyable. We have grown a lot during the course of the year and we have had some special days, with a highlight being my podium in Russia and my home race in Mexico.
“I think Abu Dhabi is the perfect place to end the season, especially with a race under the lights. The whole venue is impressive and the track is quite a challenge from a set-up point of view. You need a car that works through the fast corners in the first sector, as well as through the slow final sector, which feels more like a twisty street circuit.
“I think we have the potential for a big result in Abu Dhabi. Things didn’t work out for me in Brazil so I’m determined to get back in the points this weekend and finish this great season on a positive note." 

Nico Hulkenberg
“The final race of the season is always important because you want to finish the season well and carry the momentum into the winter months. We have already secured fifth in the championship but I want to make sure I end the season in the top ten of the drivers’ championship so there is still a lot to play for.
"Abu Dhabi is a fun place for the season finale: the venue is great and the twilight racing helps create a special atmosphere. As a track, it's not easy to get a good lap as the layout is very technical, especially in the final sector. It's quite easy to come into a corner too hot and make a mistake, and finding a good flow is a big challenge.
“Brazil was a very enjoyable weekend for me: the car felt great and we maximised every session to come away with a well-deserved result. I think we can realistically aim for a similar performance this weekend. It's been a great year for everyone in the team and we deserve to finish on a high.”

Vijay Mallya, team principal
“Heading to Abu Dhabi with fifth place in the championship already secured feels pretty good. It means we can approach the last weekend of the season free from pressure and with nothing to lose. Our focus is simply on enjoying the race and ending the season in style. Abu Dhabi will be a special race for us as it marks the 150th of our history as Force India, and we will aim to celebrate it with a strong performance on the track.
“All season I’ve been saying how proud I am of my team - particularly our development curve in the second half of the season. With 81 points from the last eight races we’ve enjoyed our best ever strike rate and we have been competitive at every race. With stable regulations for 2016, there is every reason to believe we can carry this form through the winter and into the new season. There is plenty to be excited about and a lot of positive energy in the team.
“This weekend’s race is simply another chance to demonstrate how far we have come. Our aim will be to qualify in the top ten and add a final helping of points to our tally."

Formula1.com 
 

Brazilian GP - Race - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, 6th
 “I’m very happy with sixth place and with scoring the points that helped the team secure fifth place in the championship, which is great news. It’s the best result in our history and shows the progress we have made over the years. This fifth place is a result of all the hard work from everybody in the team and we should feel very proud of what we have achieved together. The race today was fun, although I didn’t have the best start and got some wheel spin, which dropped me behind Bottas and Kvyat. Fortunately I was able to get one of those places back with an aggressive early pit stop, but that forced me to do two very long stints on the medium tyres, which was the main challenge of the day. We made it work, though, managing the tyres and delivering the two-stop strategy. I’m now looking forward to Abu Dhabi and ending the season on another high note.”
Sergio Perez, 12th
 “It hasn't been the best of weekends for me. I have struggled to feel comfortable with the car from the start and I feel I didn't go in the right direction with the set-up yesterday. Today was more or less the same so we will need to go back and analyse all the data from the weekend to address the issues before we arrive in Abu Dhabi. Today's result, however, should take nothing away from what has been a great championship so far. The team has now finished fifth, so there are a lot of positives to celebrate. I am proud of what we achieved together this season and I am looking forward to aiming even higher in the future.”
Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
“Everybody in the team is delighted that we have secured fifth place in the championship with a race to spare. It’s the reward for all the hard work put in by everyone back at the factory in Silverstone, at the wind tunnel, and here at the track. We have been through a lot this year, but we never let our target out of our sight and today we can celebrate. The race itself leaves us with mixed feelings as we wanted to seal this result with a double points finish. Nico drove very well, making a two-stop strategy work and withstanding a lot of pressure in the closing stages when Kvyat was behind him. Unfortunately Checo missed out on the top ten despite fighting hard this afternoon, but he didn't feel completely comfortable with the car all weekend. We now head to Abu Dhabi to close off this record-breaking season on a high and secure top ten positions in the drivers' championship for both Nico and Checo."

Brazilian GP - Qualifying - Force India

Nico Hülkenberg, 6th
“I’m very happy with the qualifying result. I always enjoy driving here because I love the track, the country and the atmosphere that surrounds this event. The car felt great today and I was really happy with each of my laps in all the sessions. We made some important changes to the car last night and found a positive direction, which really paid off this morning because I was much happier with the feel of the car. With the penalty for Valtteri [Bottas], it means I will start from fifth place with just the Mercedes and Ferraris ahead of me, so that’s a fantastic effort by the team. At the very least we want to hold position in the race and bring home the result because there are some quick cars behind us who will try and make things difficult. I’m feeling confident for tomorrow and looking forward to a fun race.”
Sergio Perez, 13th
“I think we had a clear opportunity to go through to Q3, so I am quite disappointed about today's result. I made a mistake on my final lap in Q2, braking too late into turn one and locking up, and that cost me the chance to be in the top ten. It's a very short lap and, when you make a mistake, it’s difficult to recover from it. All weekend I haven't felt completely comfortable with the car: I have taken a different direction with the set-up compared to Nico and I haven't been able to find my rhythm around here. It's not an ideal situation, but I’m still looking to the rest of the weekend with optimism. I am starting eleventh, but the races in Brazil can often be very eventful and a lot can still happen. I think we can still finish in the points and come home with a good result.”
Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
“Overall we feel pretty satisfied with our performance today. Nico will line up in fifth place and Sergio is expected to start from eleventh, so we are ideally placed to score well and secure fifth place in the championship. Nico found the sweet spot this morning with some set-up changes overnight, but Sergio has not been so comfortable and a small error cost him a place in Q3. Nonetheless, the car has strong race pace and I’m confident both drivers can end the weekend on a high note. Of course, the racing this weekend has been overshadowed by the tragic events in Paris and the thoughts of everyone in the team are with those who have been affected.”

Formula1.com 
 

BrazilianGP - Friday Practice - Force India

Nico Hulkenberg
FP1 - 9th, FP2 - 8th
"It was a standard Friday with lots of laps covered and plenty of data collected. Track temperatures were high for most of the day so it didn't really matter that there were a few spots of rain because it evaporated very quickly. There is still a lot of work to do ahead of qualifying because I'm not completely happy with the balance and we need to work more on understanding the tyres. With such a short lap the grid is always tight here so it's important we find some more performance tonight."

Sergio Perez
FP1 - 15th, FP2 - 11th
"We learned a lot today with a big test programme this morning. Everything went smoothly and it has given us plenty to analyse because we ran different programmes with each car. The afternoon was standard for us – collecting the tyre information and continuing to improve the car. I think we need to change a few things tonight, but I'm confident we have enough information to make sure we choose the right direction."

Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
"Overall we've enjoyed a fairly routine day of Friday practice, which allowed us to work through most of the items on the job list. Interlagos is a fairly unique track in terms of its layout so we put our focus on the twisty second sector and making sure the cars work well through those low-speed corners. Both Nico and Checo explored some different set-up directions during the day, but ended the afternoon session fairly content. I think we are in good shape heading into the weekend and will be targeting Q3 for both cars once again."

Formula1.com 
 

Brazilian GP - Preview - Force India Quotes

Sergio Perez
"Racing in my home Grand Prix last week was a dream come true. The support from the fans was incredible and I have so many memories that will stay with me forever. I was happy with my performance over the weekend and I think it was one of my best races of the season. You can always look back and say, ‘what if the safety car hadn't come out', but we made the best of it and I was happy to score points in my home race.
"Brazil is another venue where you can feel the energy of the fans. The track is brilliant: it's a proper racer's circuit with some amazing corners. The first sector is fantastic: you can take different lines through turn one and you can end up in a battle for position that lasts until turn six. The lap is very technical and there are a lot of places where you can easily make a mistake, but the feeling when you get a perfect lap together is amazing.
"In the last few races we've had a really good run of results. I feel I'm driving at my best and the team is doing a fantastic job. We want to finish this season on a high and I think we still have some big results in us, so I am confident ahead of the race."

Nico Hulkenberg
"I really love Brazil as a country and Sao Paulo as a city. The track is very traditional and there is always a special atmosphere around the place. There are some fun corners - the Senna Esses are really cool as turns one, two and three make up a nice combination. The lap is quite short but there are a lot of elevation changes and banked corners, which create a very challenging lap. It's a track where I really enjoy driving.

"Interlagos has been quite good to me: I had a pole position in 2010, led the race in 2012 and I've always finished in the points. I seem to have good chemistry there and I feel comfortable on and off the track. I can really identify with the Brazilian lifestyle and the people. I think we will be competitive so I hope I can add another strong result to the list."

Vijay Mallya, team principal
"We travel to Brazil off the back of a memorable and successful weekend in Mexico. Everybody I spoke to said how much they enjoyed the event and the warm welcome we received. It was a race where we maximised our opportunities to bring both cars home well inside the points and edge closer to securing fifth place in the championship.

"The Brazilian Grand Prix is another great event. It's an historic venue where the fans always create a special atmosphere – much like Mexico. The Interlagos circuit always seems to deliver an exciting race because it's an old school track with several good overtaking opportunities. The weather is also unpredictable and that often adds to the drama.

"With just two races to go, we must keep our focus and make sure we don't let our guard down so close to the finish line. If we score well in Brazil, we can clinch fifth place in the championship and that's the priority. I'm confident we can do it and getting both cars home in the points would be a great way to celebrate our best season ever."

Formula1.com