Formula 1

Force India’s Bob Fernley: “It’s still encouraging to pick up a point”

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Robert Fernley (GBR) Sahara Force India F1 Team Deputy Team Principal. Austrian Grand Prix, Sunday 3rd July 2016. Spielberg, Austria. Credit: Sahara Force India

Sahara Force India Deputy Team Principal Bob Fernley, was encouraged by the performance potential of the VJM09 in Hungary, despite the team coming away with just a solitary point on Sunday.

“We leave Budapest with a sense of unrealised potential. Ultimately, our race result was determined by the tricky qualifying session yesterday, which put us on the back foot in terms of track position – which is very important here.

“Nico lost out to Bottas at the start and was tucked up in a train of cars for much of the race – especially behind Kvyat – and could not make the most of his superior race pace.

Errors during the pit stops of both drivers, but in particular Sergio Perez, cost the Silverstone based squad the chance of getting both cars home in the points, but Fernley is confident they can turn things around in Germany this coming weekend.

“With Checo we were contemplating a one-stop race, but it soon became clear he was struggling on the medium tyres. When we switched him to the two-stop there was a miscommunication on the pit wall, which cost us extra time in the pit stop.

“Given the challenges we have faced over the last couple of days, it’s still encouraging to pick up a point – and it’s only the second time in the team’s history that we’ve scored points in Budapest.

“We know there is good speed in the car and I’m confident we can make better use of it in Germany next week.”

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