Force India will have their sights set firmly on more points this weekend as Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez take to the streets of Monaco to try and keep the pressure on their nearest rivals.
Hulkenberg and Perez arrive in Monaco off the back of another points finish in Barcelona, to keep Force India fourth in the constructors’ standings ahead of Williams.
Hulkenberg in particularly has shown excellent points scoring form for the team. The German has finished in the points five races in a row, and is hoping he can make it six in Monaco. “We are in a big battle with some strong teams,” said Hulkenberg. “Being able to score points race after race could make the difference by the end of the season.”
“(Five points finishes in a row) keeps up our momentum and shows that we can score points even when we are having a difficult day. It shows we have consistency, which is important for keeping our position in the championship.”
Like many drivers, Hulkenberg views Monaco as one of the highlights of the Formula One calendar, and not just because of the track. “It’s the event of the year. Your heartbeat goes up when you arrive – The place looks amazing with the buildings, the scenery and the mountains. Of course the biggest thrill is driving the track.”
Unlike his team-mate, the one and only thing that gets Perez feeling giddy in Monaco is the challenging circuit that lies ahead of him. “It’s a big challenge,” he said. “I have always believed it’s a circuit where the driver can really make a difference. So you always have the chance to do something special there.”
And ‘something special’ is what Perez will be hoping to do this weekend. The team are pushing hard to maintain their position in the consturctors’ championship, which is a task Perez remains focused on.
“I expect the same teams to be at the front – I don’t believe that there will be a major surprise. It’s hard to predict how strong we will be, but I hope we can continue our good form.”
Vijay Mallya is also aware of the constant threat from ever-improving teams, so he is taking no chances and is pushing his team to their limits. “It’s a given that things will always change in Formula One,” said Mallya. “We have noticed our immediate competitors are getting stronger, but we are working hard to maintain our competitive advantage.”
Although Force India are pushing hard to continue improving, Mallya hopes both his drivers can have a clean weekend in Monaco and stay out of trouble.
“Monaco is a track where you can take nothing for granted because you have to balance speed with respect for the barriers. It will be interesting with the new cars because it is so unforgiving and the drivers will have to be at their very best.”