Force India to keep pressure on McLaren

Force India have warned McLaren that they have a real battle on their hands for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship…

Force India have warned McLaren that they have a real battle on their hands for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.

The Silverstone team are currently seven points ahead of their more illustrious rivals in the standings after both Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta finished in the points at the Monaco Grand Prix.

McLaren, though, have also proved in recent races that they are making progress following their poor start so it promises to be an interesting battle for the rest of the campaign.

Deputy team principal Bob Fernley hopes the engine rule change in 2014 will give his side a boost in the race for fifth.

“There is obviously still a long way to go, but we’re going to give it a go. We’re not backing off anywhere,” Fernley is quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.

“The one thing that may be in our favour this year is we all have to switch resources, if we’ve not already done so then in the very-near future, over to the 2014 car.

“McLaren will have to do that, and with all due respect to McLaren, racing Force India is not like racing for a Championship.

“So you might have to write something off at some point and say ‘Let’s go on to next year’s programme’.

“If they do, then that gives us an opportunity, because apart from Malaysia where we had the wheel-nut issue, we’ve had a car or both cars in the points at every race.

“Hopefully that shows we’re competitive in all conditions.”

Sutil was one of the stars of the show on the streets of Monte Carlo as he moved from eighth on the grid to P5 while Di Resta came from 17th to finish ninth.

“Everything finally came together for Adrian, so we’re thrilled and relieved for him. That drive will do his confidence the world of good,” added Fernley.

“As for Paul, it was a great drive. In Monaco, to go from 17th to ninth, is quite remarkable.

“Overall, it was a great team effort. Fortune favours the brave and we had to take quite an aggressive decision with Paul.

“We called him in early to try and get track position, and then the red flag (for Pastor Maldonado’s accident) dropped in perfectly for us.

“To get both cars in the points, and at Monaco and after what happened in qualifying, just goes to show the pace of the cars.”