Force India will investigate why it struggled so much with brakes and tyres as both of its cars retired from the Austrian Grand Prix.
Following two podiums in three races for the team, Nico Hulkenberg started from second on the grid as it looked to continue its recent good form. However, the German slipped back rapidly through the field before eventually retiring with brake concerns.
Sergio Perez was making good progress from outside the top ten after a disappointing qualifying session, but running eighth with two laps to go he suffered a total brake failure which eliminated him from the points.
Asked if there was any warning ahead of the Perez failure which saw him crash at Turn 3, deputy team principal Bob Fernley told F1i: “Nope, nothing.
“The thing is you went from something where you were very optimistic to something that was a disaster really. But at the end of the day you’ve just got to brush yourself down. In terms of damage to us championship-wise, fortunately nobody else had a good weekend. Williams sneaked a couple more points and so did Toro Rosso but in the great scheme of things it wasn’t too much.
“I thought we were going to salvage something with Checo’s run because Williams were out of the points at that point and we could have just salvaged something but it wasn’t to be.”
With Hulkenberg struggling immediately in the race, Fernley says Force India will need to analyse why its tyre problems were so bad.
“He didn’t have a good start, bogged down a little bit at the start, and we just couldn't keep the tyres under him. Literally we were having graining problems right from day one. I’m not sure we would have been able to finish even with having done the extra stop.
“I don’t know [what the cause is] but we need to look at it. We’re doing something obviously that we need to look at very carefully.”
REPORT: Hamilton snatches dramatic victory on final lap from Rosberg
AS IT HAPPENED: Austrian Grand Prix
Breakfast with ... Alexander Rossi
F1i Classic: Penske's emotional Austrian GP win
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
