Formula 1

Force India’s Robert Fernley: “It was a fantastic weekend”

1 Mins read
Nico Hulkenberg - Credit: Sahara Force India

Sahara Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley insists the team can be proud of finishing fourth and fifth at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, even though the red flag possibly lost Nico Hülkenberg a podium place.

Hülkenberg was running second before Kevin Magnussen’s crash at Raidillon brought out the safety car and then the red flags, but despite losing places to both Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton as a result of the field being bunched up once more, Fernley was happy with the outcome of the race, especially as Sergio Perez followed his team-mate home in fifth.

“We can rightly be proud of a great team result – the first time we’ve put both cars in the top five since Bahrain 2014,” said Fernley. “It was a fantastic weekend, one that highlights once more the special relationship we have with Spa-Francorchamps.

“Everyone in the team did a great job and we can now celebrate a very strong race. We can even be a bit disappointed, too, because without the Safety Car and red flag, Nico could well have been on the podium, but considering how the race turned out, we feel pretty content with the result.”

Fernley knows the team still have work to do as they continue their battle with Williams Martini Racing for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, with the results in Belgium moving them ahead of their rivals for the first time this season.

“We are now fourth in the championship, having scored 89 points since Monaco, but we won’t let our guard down,” insisted Fernley. “There is still a long way to go and the battle in the midfield is just going to get closer.

“We will continue to work hard and hopefully bring home more special results between now and the end of the season.”

13729 posts

About author
Long time motorsport fanatic, covering Formula 1 and the occassional other series. Feel free to give him a follow on Twitter at @Paul11MSport.
Articles
Related posts
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton: Post-race disqualification “doesn't take away from the progress we've made”

2 Mins read
Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the United States Grand Prix due to a technical regulation violation, and lost out on a second place result.
Formula 1

Max Verstappen takes 50th Grand Prix victory in Austin

2 Mins read
Verstappen led a charging Hamilton to take the win at the United States Grand Prix after struggling under braking throughout the race.
Formula 1

McLaren’s Andrea Stella: “We must remain with our feet on the ground” after double podium in Qatar

1 Mins read
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella reflects on a “very strong” weekend in Qatar, with a double podium result and record-breaking pit stop.