Sport - Racing : Motor

Force India buoyant

SEPANG: After the Melbourne heartbreak, Force India will bank on new aerodynamic parts and Giancarlo Fisichella’s experience to make a mark in Sunday’s Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit here.

The Force India drivers, who struggled at Melbourne’s sun-baked Albert Park on Sunday, would find themselves in even more extreme conditions here. Though that remains a worry, new aero developments and Fisichella’s vast experience, including his 2006 win here with Renault, have boosted Force India’s morale.

Though neither he nor his younger German teammate Adrian Sutil could finish the season’s opening race in Melbourne, Fisichella is confident of a better show here.

“As we went out very early in Australia, we could not demonstrate how much closer we now are relative to the other teams. The VJM01 feels more consistent and stable, and now we have some new aero parts coming for this race. I think we can make another step forward,” Fisichella said.

“I have good memories of the race here too. I won in 2006 with Renault and, although we will not be in that position now, I do think we should be able to put in a good performance,” said the Italian.

“My aim is the same as before — I want to take the team into second qualifying for the first time, and then finish the race. As Australia showed, anything can happen and if we are there, then we have a good chance of having a good result,” he added. Sutil said that the conditions would be tough and the track was too bumpy. He was still looking forward to get into the second qualifying session.

“I am really disappointed that I did not get into second qualifying and then could not finish the race in Australia, as I think we could have finished very high up with the way the race went. But, you just have to forget that now and look forward to the next event. Q2 is for sure my aim, and I really think we could make it this time,” Sutil said.

Team owner Vijay Mallya, too, took a glass-half-full view of the Melbourne race and said the double retirement notwithstanding, the team derived a lot of positives from the season opener.

“The Australian GP gave us much encouragement. With strong performances from both drivers over the weekend, we showed an improvement.

“It was disappointing not to get to second qualifying and then to have the double retirement, but even so, the morale is high,” he said.

Team principal Colin Kolles echoed his view and said, “I was very pleased with Australia despite the ultimate race result, and I think we can continue the trend in Malaysia this weekend. — PTI

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu