Force India is confident its B-spec car showed improved outright pace despite numerous reliability issues during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
The team only introduced a new aerodynamic package at Silverstone, with both Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez finishing in the points at a circuit where Force India expected to struggle. However, in Hungary the team had a suspension issue which caused a big crash for Perez in practice, while Hulkenberg retired from the race with a front wing failure.
Speaking exclusively to F1i, when asked if Force India was still encouraged by what it had seen from the new package, team COO Otmar Szafnauer replied: “Very, because once we fix what we experienced in Hungary, which we will do, then the underlying pace is better. So it’s good.
“Monza we have a Monza-specific package as everyone does, and in Spa we’ll have to see. We have got some upgrades coming for Spa as well, some for Singapore too.”
However, Szafnauer admits Force India might need to revise its target of challenging Red Bull for fourth place in the constructors’ championship.
“Red Bull scored a lot of points [in Hungary]. We’ll see. First we’ve got to consolidate fifth because we’re only four points ahead now, so that’s first and foremost and then we’ll look forward. We’ll know in the next two or three races.”
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