Robert Fernley still believes both Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon can score points during Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, despite both drivers being eliminated from qualifying in Q2.
The Sahara Force India F1 Team duo will start eleventh and fourteenth respectively, with neither driver having a clean final lap in qualifying, and Deputy Team Principal Fernley believes making it through to the top ten shootout could have been a possibility.
Fernley also believes both drivers have the chance to move up the order on Sunday as they aim to start the year with a strong result in order to attempt to match last year’s amazing run to fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
“The potential was certainly there for us to make Q3, but Sergio didn’t have the cleanest lap during his final run of Q2 and he missed the top ten by a whisker,” said Fernley.
“Esteban is still finding his feet with the team and is on a very steep learning curve. He’s taken a very mature approach so far and is gradually building his confidence and speed with this car. He made good progress during the session and he knows there is more to come.
“It’s a long race tomorrow so let’s see what happens. Scoring points with both cars remains the objective.”
