Only 'a massive upset' will cost fourth for Force India

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes the Brazilian Grand Prix secured fourth in the constructors' championship "barring a massive upset".

Sergio Perez finished fourth in Sunday's wet race - losing out on a podium to Max Verstappen in the closing laps - while team-mate Nico Hulkenberg was seventh. Hulkenberg was running ahead of Perez before a puncture cost him positions but the return of 18 points leaves Force India 27 clear of Williams with one race remaining.

"We were very unfortunate with the accident that Nico had, picking up the front wing of Kimi [Raikkonen]," Fernley told F1i. "I think had we been able to hold position with both of them and not had the puncture obviously or the damage it would have been harder for Max to get through both of them.

"So from our point of view Checo did the right thing, fighting as much as he could but not losing the position. At the end of the day I think it’s pretty well secured fourth for us, barring a massive upset in Abu Dhabi we should be reasonably confident.”

And Fernley says Force India is getting its rewards for remaining aggressive since moving ahead of Williams at the Singapore Grand Prix.

“I don’t think we took a conservative position at any point. We were out there racing and doing a very aggressive strategy. We held it together, good work from the pit wall team, and super driving from both of them. Nico’s run at the end carving through the field was quite remarkable, and Checo as always just delivers. If there’s an opportunity there, he’s got it.”

With Hulkenberg suffering more misfortune and yet to score a podium in his F1 career, Fernley admitted the team wanted to see the German have the chance to fight at Interlagos.

“It’s just unbelievable. I don’t know what you can do to get through it but it is what it is. Our key thing is obviously fourth in the championship but it just would have been nice to give Nico that opportunity.”