Brazil GP - Friday Practice- Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:14.678, 13th; P2 - 1:13.882, 13th
"Most forecasts said it would be cloudy and wet, but the opposite was the case and it was very hot and sunny. We even saw track temperatures of 58ºC, which made it a challenge to manage both tyre compounds this afternoon. It might be cooler over the weekend, so we need to be careful about what conclusions we make tonight and the approach we take tomorrow. Apart from that it was a pretty straightforward Friday on my side of the garage and we just need to make the usual performance tweaks overnight."

Sergio Perez, P2 - No time
"It's disappointing not to run today and what happened with Daniel is bad luck. This is how things are in Formula One and sometimes you just have to accept that it's not going to be your day. Final practice will be even more important now but hopefully I can get up-to-speed before qualifying."

Daniel Juncadella, P1 - 1:16.030, 16th
"It's always good to be back in the car, but it's a shame to end the session with an accident. It was the strangest crash I ever had and I was not expecting it at all. The track was evolving very quickly because there is new asphalt and there was only one racing line with grip. On that lap I went a bit wider on the kerb, which was a bit too optimistic because I had a moment and had to catch the car. There was no room in the run-off area so I damaged the front of the car. I've apologised to the team and I'm sorry that it caused Sergio to miss track time, but hopefully he can still have a strong weekend."

Vijay Mallya, team principal and managing director
"It was quite a testing day on Checo's side of the garage. Daniel drove the car this morning, but made a mistake coming through turn seven and ended up in the barrier. It was not a heavy impact, but the car experienced a lot of heat soak, which damaged some engine hydraulic components. The decision was taken to replace them as a precaution, which unfortunately deprived Checo of running today. With only one car available this afternoon, we adjusted our run plan to ensure we gathered all the data we needed prior to the race, although with several red flags during the session it was not easy to complete a long run without disruption."

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Brazil GP - Preview - Force India

Nico Hulkenberg
2013 Qualifying - 10th, 2013 Race - 8th
"Brazil is always a highlight of my season and it's one of the events I enjoy the most. If you look at my record at Interlagos it's a circuit where I have always performed well. I enjoy the country, the atmosphere, the Brazilian lifestyle and all that surrounds the event seems to have given me a special boost in the past and hopefully it will happen again. Obviously this is a new year and we will need to prepare for this event well: Interlagos can always throw a surprise with the conditions and this could be a challenge for which we need to be ready.

"The track itself is a proper old-school circuit: you don't have the vast expanses of more modern tracks, everything is bunched up together - it feels almost like a karting track. It's a very cool layout with some iconic corners, and it has a lot of Formula One history."

Sergio Perez
2013 Qualifying - 14th, 2013 Race - 6th
"Interlagos is a great track and makes for a very enjoyable weekend. The circuit is very rewarding to drive in an F1 car - you can attack in almost every corner and it requires absolute commitment. There are quite a few overtaking points and I have had some special battles there in the past. You have some very fast corners and a very complex middle sector: there are changes of elevation, cambers and it's very twisty, it's very difficult but it gives you such a great feeling when you get it right.
"Brazil is a great country to race in - the public has a real passion for Formula One and this creates a great atmosphere. The country has created so many big names in our sport, none more so than Senna: he was fully devoted to racing and was a unique driver and man. You can see his spirit lives on at this track and this is reflected in all the fans in the grandstands. The other thing I always remember about Interlagos is the traffic - it can be a bit of an adventure to get from the hotel to the circuit but it's all part of the experience!"

Daniel Juncadella
"I'm very happy to be given another chance to drive the car this weekend in Brazil. I feel confident after my outings in Silverstone and Italy and I look forward to continue gaining more experience with the team. The Brazilian track brings back good memories, as I achieved two podium finishes back in 2008 when I raced here at the final two races of the Formula BMW American season, but I can't wait to go back and see what it's like to drive it in an F1 car! The fact that I know the track and that I'm not new to the team anymore will definitely be two positive elements that will allow me to focus on my driving and on doing the best job possible for the team straight away. After finishing my DTM season much stronger than we started it, I now look forward to my third FP1 outing and I'd like to thank Sahara Force India for this opportunity."

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"The bad luck we experienced in Austin is part of the game and I'm pleased to say it's very unusual to see our two cars fail to take the chequered flag. Our consistency and reliability have been strong for the most part of the year and we simply have to take a weekend such as Austin on the chin. Our battle for fifth in the championship is now a bit more complicated, but it's not yet out of reach. It's a shame that Checo will have a grid penalty in Brazil, but Interlagos is a track that lends itself to overtaking so hopefully he can recover some of the lost ground. The last time Nico Hulkenberg raced for us in Brazil, he almost won the race! It remains one of the most memorable moments in the team's history, but it's also a painful memory because we came so close to our first victory. It's a track that both Nico and Sergio love and perhaps we can expect some more magic moments this year, especially if we get some of Sao Paulo's famous unsettled weather."

F1.com 

FIA punishes Perez for 'reckless' clash

 

Sergio Perez will take a seven-place grid penalty for the next Formula 1 race in Brazil, after the FIA found him guilty of reckless driving in the US Grand Prix.
Force India F1 racer Perez collided with the Sauber of Adrian Sutil on the opening lap of Sunday's race at Austin, putting both out of the event and causing a safety car period.

The stewards have slapped Perez with a seven-place grid penalty and two penalty points on his licence for causing the collision.

An FIA statement read: "The driver of car #11 [Perez] could not reasonably have expected to complete the manoeuvre. His collision with car #99 [Sutil] was reckless."

Perez described the incident, in which he also made lighter contact with Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, as "unfortunate".

"I made a move on Adrian at Turn 15 when he left the door open, so I went up the inside, then Adrian started to close the door and I had to try and brake later than him," Perez explained.


"By doing so I was unable to avoid contact with Kimi, which caused me to make contact with Adrian also.

"I just didn't expect Kimi to be in that position."

Sutil started a season's best ninth for the race, and was frustrated to miss out on a chance of scoring Sauber's first points of the season.

"It was such a shame and so disappointing and so unnecessary," Sutil said.

"We were hoping for a great result today and because of a silly action like this we missed everything.

"It is very disappointing that we missed our biggest chance of points because of this move."

Autosport.com

America GP - Race - Force India driver quotes

Sergio Perez, DNF
"What happened today is really unfortunate. I made a move on Adrian [Sutil] at turn 15 when he left the door open, so I went up the inside. Then Adrian started to close the door and I had to try and brake later than him. By doing so I was unable to avoid contact with Kimi [Raikkonen], which caused me to make contact with Adrian also. I just didn't expect Kimi to be in that position. It's a big shame because I had a great chance to keep up my run of points finishes and I was determined to do well in such an important race. I feel very sorry for all my fans who came to support me this weekend and I'm disappointed I could not give them a race to remember."

Nico Hulkenberg, DNF
"Unfortunately an early end to my race. I lost drive and had no more power so the team told me over the radio to stop the car. Even before that it had not been an easy race with a very difficult first lap. I was right behind Sergio and Adrian when they crashed, and Sergio's front wing just happened to fall right in front of my car. I ran over it, which caused damage to my car and the tyres. I dived into the pits and lost quite a lot of track position. After that I was running behind the McLarens on a similar strategy with the plan to run the softs at the end of the race. It's always disappointing to end a race with retirement but fortunately we have the next race in seven days so I will soon be back in the car. Sao Paulo is one of my favourite races and hopefully we can have a better weekend there."

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
"It was obviously a very disappointing day for Sahara Force India. We have had a pretty good level of reliability and consistency so far in the season, so when a day like this happens and two cars fail to finish the race it comes as a bit of a surprise. Checo's race was very short and it was a real shame as he was already up inside the points before his retirement. He had the pace to bring home a good result and perhaps it was just a case of being too eager to make up the positions. Nico had to pit as he couldn't avoid the debris from the crash, but we are confident he would have been battling for the points. Unfortunately, he was sidelined by an engine failure that will be investigated once the power unit is back in the UK. Today's result complicates our battle for fifth in the Championship, but we will keep fighting until the very end. There are still two races, one with double points, and today has shown a bad weekend can happen to anyone.

F1.com 
 

Exclusive Sergio Perez Q&A: I want to stay with Force India

Having been dropped by McLaren after just a single season at the end of 2013, Sergio Perez has had to work hard this year to revive his reputation at Force India. But after a podium finish and a further 10 point-scoring results, Perez now feels fully at home with his new team and hopes to continue their partnership next year. We caught up with the Mexican in Austin to review his 2014 campaign…

Q: Checo, what is the state of affairs in your negotiations with Force India for 2015? Will we hear news soon, given that your team mate Nico Hulkenberg has already been confirmed?
Sergio Perez: You have to speak to (team boss) Vijay (Mallya) - he is the man to know. But yes, we are of course in negotiations and I hope that we will have something to announce very soon.
Q: Is it your aim to stay with the team in 2015?
SP: Yes, definitely. It always takes a while till you are fully integrated in a new team - know all the people and their positions and skills - but that period is over now and I feel very comfortable in being a part of Force India. Of course the Bahrain podium was a huge door opener, but if you look at my last five races I was in the points in each of them - so yes, I have arrived, and yes, I would like to stay with Force India in 2015.
Q: The season is almost over: what is your opinion on the 2014 changes? For what kind of driver are the changes a blessing - and what is hurting the others?
SP: Well, it was an adaption to a new driving style. At the beginning it was a bit odd to see that the pit wall is in fact with you in the cockpit - that many things that a driver used to decide is now done electronically. It is different now, true, but it holds different challenges, so in no way has driving a Formula One car become easier.
Q: What had the most significant impact on driving style? And will it be more balanced in 2015 when the changes have sunk in?
SP: The low downforce level. These cars are completely different to handle than those from last year - and then you have the strong influence of the pit wall as I just said. You have to come to terms with the fact that the times of ‘a man and his machine’ are over - now it is a man, his machine and his engineering crew. (laughs)
Q: When you look back on this year’s races, what’s been your highlight - not necessarily in terms of points, but skills?
SP: Of course the Bahrain podium stands out - it was my third race with the team and it really bonded me to my then-new team. I also enjoyed the Austrian Grand Prix that saw me finishing in P6. Drivers are result driven, so results are what makes your day! (laughs)
Q: Lately Nico has been having a tough time of it in races whereas you’ve been in the points at the last five Grands Prix - why is that so?
SP: I cannot speak about Nico’s situation - you have to ask him. I can only say that I am happy with the last five races and I want to add tomorrow to this list of points finishes.
Q: The first two positions in the constructors’ championship are taken, but we will see very interesting battles behind that: between Williams and Ferrari for P3 and between McLaren and Force India for P5. What’s your guess on the final order?
SP: Yes, we four teams still fighting for positions will give the fans a good show, I swear. I can only speak for Force India in terms of possibilities and I think that we do still have all the chances to beat McLaren because of the double points in Abu Dhabi. So we will stay on their heels.

Q: Next year F1 racing will return to Mexico, but for this season Austin is the closest thing to your home race. Are the many Mexican fans here giving you a boost?
SP: Yes. In the paddock you hear Spanish everywhere, and the Mexican flags on the grandstands - that is awesome! I promise all the Mexican fans who have come here that I will do everything I can not to disappoint them!
Q: What has been your main focus so far this weekend? Both cars dropped out in Q2, but Force India are known to be a ‘race-orientated’ team…
SP: Of course we were disappointed not to make it into Q3. I used two sets of tyres in Q1 just to get through to Q2 and then I only had one single set left, which meant only one shot to make it into Q3 and unfortunately it didn’t work out. I am not fully satisfied with the balance of the car, but the wind played a major factor in that. And the wind will also play a major factor in the race - and the temperature. But our long-run pace from Friday was promising, so I would still predict that we will deliver a good result. 

F1.com 
 

America GP - Qualifying - ForceIndia Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg (13th, Q2 - 1:38.598)
"To begin with, qualifying was going well and I really believed Q3 was possible. On my final lap in Q2 I was on target for the top ten until something really unusual happened because a tear-off visor wrapped itself around my front tyre going into turn twelve. I've never experienced something like that in my career and when I turned into the corner I had no grip, I ran wide and lost a couple of tenths. It was my final Q2 lap so it was quite frustrating and unlucky. Looking ahead to the race, it's going to be tough because the soft tyres are quite a challenge here and we expect more hot temperatures tomorrow. Scoring points will be our aim as we are normally stronger on Sunday afternoon."

Sergio Perez (12th, Q2 - 1:38.554)
"It has been a difficult weekend so far working with the car balance because the windy conditions have impacted on us quite a lot. The wind was always changing direction, making the car quite unpredictable and making it difficult to be consistent. So it was hard to get the perfect lap together. I had to use two sets of soft tyres in Q1 just to make sure I got through to Q2, which meant I only had a single set of new soft tyres to use in Q2. Given the conditions I think we've done a good job, but I wish I could have done even better for the fans because they have made a big effort to come here and show their support. Hopefully tomorrow we can race well and be in the fight for some points."

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
"We were probably expecting a little bit more from today's qualifying session, especially considering that Nico has been inside the top ten in all the practice sessions and looked very strong during this morning's session. Ultimately he was unlucky when it mattered today with a strange incident disturbing his best opportunity to make the top ten. Without that he would have made Q3. Sergio has been struggling more to fine-tune the balance here, due in part to the windy weather. However, he pulled together a reasonable lap and he should be able to race well from there."

F1.com
 

USGP - Friday practice - Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:41.722, 9th; P2 - 1:40.800, 10th
“I think we can be reasonably happy with our Friday. We did all the work we set out to do at the start of the day and it's always good fun to practice on a track like this. There was a big shift in conditions between the morning and the afternoon - it was much hotter and there was a very strong wind which was challenging. All in all it was a good day: we will have the usual amount of fine-tuning to do on the set-up and we will need to look at the tyre data to understand how the compounds work, but that's all standard stuff on a trouble-free Friday. It's Halloween tonight, so hopefully we'll get more treats than tricks for tomorrow's qualifying!”
Sergio Perez, P1 - 1:42.359, 15th; P2 - 1:41.123, 14th
“It was definitely not a bad start for the weekend. We had some upgrades on the car and our main target was to do as much running as possible to assess their effectiveness. We were able to do some good progress on the balance between the two sessions so I am feeling quite positive for the rest of the weekend. There's still plenty to look at tonight, especially in regard to the two different compounds, to try and squeeze out more performance ahead of tomorrow. I am quite optimistic even if today's times don't really show where we stand, but the points are given out on Sunday and that is what my focus is on.”

Vijay Mallya, team principal and managing director
“It was a very windy day, which makes it hard to assess the balance of the car as the conditions change continuously, but it was the same for everybody so we just have to carry on with our work. We had a very busy day, testing upgrades and collecting lots of data: this is very important as a lot of it will feed directly into our designs for next season. In FP2 we achieved a pretty good balance with our car and we were able to switch our attention to the long runs. Overall it was a very good Friday and we're looking forward to tomorrow.”

F1.com