Friday: Force India doesn’t seem too bad in the rain

Paul di Resta – 13th [Free Practice 2]:

« After missing this morning’s session, I did my best to be quick as soon as possible on this wet track. The balance on intermediates isn’t too bad and I think we know the areas to improve tonight. So it seems we are in a good position and the car seems to perform better in the rain compared to the start of the season. I didn’t have the opportunity to do an ideal lap this afternoon, so I think there’s more to extract from the car tomorrow. »

Adrian Sutil – 15th and 15th:

« We tried many things this morning and I was one of the cars that covered the most laps. We tested different setup options to improve our performance in the rain. I spent most of the morning on intermediates and stayed on the same set this afternoon to ensure I have enough new tire sets available for qualifying and the race. After such a busy morning, we didn’t do much running this afternoon and my performance was compromised by using worn tires. So I think it’s fair to say that my lap time in free practice 2 is not representative. The most important thing was understanding how the tires work in the rain. »

James Calado – 18th [Free Practice 1]:

« It was my first experience driving an F1 in the rain and the conditions were really very difficult. It was important not to take risks, so I held back a bit, but I’m quite happy with my pace and my position, only 3 tenths behind Adrian. I only managed to do 9 laps, but it was enough to gather some data for the team and to give me the experience of a wet track. It was also my first time at Interlagos and my initial impressions are positive. It’s a high-speed circuit with fast and flowing sections, and it’s also quite a technical lap. »