Chinese GP: Force India Prefers to Wait for Good Results in Europe

The partnership with McLaren-Mercedes seems to be bearing fruit as Force India can now achieve some standout performances in qualifying or in races. Certainly, the last ranks are usually reserved for them, but this season everyone has a chance.

Regarding the diffusers, they are legal, so Force India must follow the path of innovation like seven other teams to have a chance of progressing even further.

Giancarlo Fisichella – Racing Driver:

« The main objective for this weekend is to complete a Grand Prix without errors, qualify in an honorable position, and finish the race. I think it’s too early to hope for points, but we must maintain the momentum gained and gather as much information as possible. The goal is to introduce new parts that will bring a real improvement. »

Adrian Sutil – Racing Driver

China can be a tough challenge with high humidity, and it can get very hot in the car. There are some long straights, which allow for some recovery. The first corner is one of the tightest of the year because you have to shift down to second gear. One of the most difficult corners is turn 11.

« The goal in Shanghai, as with the previous races, is to reach the checkered flag. This year, I am at 100% and I hope to stay that way until the end of the season. We’ve seen that some teams have issues with the KERS. For us, nothing has been set at the moment. When we arrive in Europe, I want to race on merit, and not wait for something to happen from another driver.

Dominic Harlow – Chief Race Engineer:

« China is the benchmark in terms of long straights followed by hairpins and some challenging corners. We use a compromise on the car setup to allow good straight-line speed but with acceptable levels of grip and balance in the corners. »

« Tire graining can also be a problem. We recently raced in China at the end of 2008 and returning only a few months later with different cars will be an interesting experience. One factor that can impact the strategy in Shanghai is the weather, with the risk of heavy rain. The situation can change very quickly as we saw in 2007. »