Carlos Sainz thinks Force India, which Toro Rosso is chasing for fifth in the Constructors’ championship, has been on a streak of good luck in recent races, including last Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
Despite out-qualifying Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez at Silverstone, Sainz finished behind both in eighth after a wet-to-dry race. Even if team-mate Daniil Kvyat returned to the points for the first time since Spain with P10, Force India increased the gap over Toro Rosso by nine points.
“The only disappointment is having the two Force Indias in front of us,” Sainz said of his British GP performance. “I don’t know what they do in the race but they always get lucky, with the Safety Car, with Perez, with Nico [Hulkenberg] who did a mistake into turn one but did not spin and kept going.
“For the rest, for us to have the same pace as Ferrari in the wet, passing the two Williams, defending the Force Indias, it’s a huge achievement.
“Obviously my mistake into turn one [Sainz was one of many to spun into that corner], I was disappointed about that but then I heard everybody was spinning and going off there so that helped me a bit to cheer up.”
When it was pointed to Sainz that he was level on 26 points with Hulkenberg, the 21-year-old added: “We can be very pleased with that. Since Barcelona, Force India has a better car, a better package than us and we’re more or less keeping them honest knowing that Perez is always having a lot of points, he has two podiums.
“Hulkenberg has had more normal races like me. We keep him in our sights and now Grosjean is also two points in front. I think we are doing a very consistent year and we need to keep it that way.”
2016 British Grand Prix - Driver ratings
RACE REPORT: Hamilton beats Rosberg and Verstappen in British GP
FEATURE: Home sweet Home - Eric Silbermann on Silverstone
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