Formula 1

Force India End 2011 On A High at Interlagos

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Sutil held off the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg to finish sixth at Interlagos - Photo Credit: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Sutil held off the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg to finish sixth at Interlagos - Photo Credit: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Force India equalled their best result of 2011 at the season finale in Brazil after Adrian Sutil finished sixth and Paul di Resta finished eighth.

The result meant that the team comfortably secured sixth place in the constructors’ championship they had been targeting this season, and were only four points behind Renault in fifth.

“I'm really happy about the result today,” said Sutil, who is not expected to be racing with the team next season. “It completes a great weekend where everything went to plan. I had a good feeling in all the sessions and the team did a brilliant job to give me such a good car today. We also made the right calls with the strategy because we knew there was a chance to beat Mercedes, and that's exactly what we did.

“So I'm very happy with my sixth place – it's the best way to end the year and it also means that I move up to ninth place in the drivers' championship, which was my aim.”

Di Resta, who is expected to remain at the team next season and partner Nico Hulkenberg, was pleased to make it to the end and score those four points. “My eighth place today is a great result after quite a tough race for me,” said the Scot. “There was a concern with the gearbox around half way through the race so the team told me to just try and bring the car home. In the final stint it was just a case of managing the gap to Kobayashi behind me and we had enough to do that quite easily in the end.

“So that's the end of my first season of Formula 1 and it's been a great year, especially now we have finished sixth in the championship. It's well deserved for the entire team and I want to thank everyone for their help and support during this amazing year.”

Deputy team principal Robert Fernley described Force India‘s season as ‘tremendous’ and said that they aim to be even better in 2012. “Today's result is the perfect way to end what has been a tremendous season for Sahara Force India,” he said. “Adrian and Paul drove brilliant races to add 12 more points to our tally and confirm our sixth place in the championship – our highest finish to date. I'm also very pleased that we could move Adrian up to ninth in the drivers' standings.

“As a team we have taken great strides forward this season and now is the time to congratulate everyone who has contributed to that. We head into the winter in good spirits and determined to come back even stronger next year to pick up where we left off.”

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