Force India is banking on a new aero update and its drivers’ liking for the layout to swell its point tally in the Monaco Grand Prix here on Sunday.
Back among the points again after Adrian Sutil’s seventh-place finish in Barcelona, the Silverstone-based outfit is upbeat about continuing its good run in the sixth leg of the Formula One championship.
“Very clearly we’re strong in some areas and on a track like Monaco, which requires a lot of downforce, I think our car will perform well,” Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said.
“We have a little additional downforce package for Monaco and both drivers are very much looking forward to it. Both have consistently done well there, so I’m also looking forward to being well into the points,” said Mallya.
Like Mallya, Sutil too seemed to have high expectations from the updates.
“We brought some aero and mechanical parts to Spain and it was a reasonable step but we’ve had bigger steps before.
For Monaco we have another package, and that should help us a lot,” said Sutil.
The German has a special fondness for the Monaco Grand Prix and he came close to scoring Force India’s first championship points in 2008 when he was running fourth in the closing stages of the race.
“I cannot wait to get there. I like the circuit, and I’ve kind of had good results there, kind of, I’m saying.
“I remember in 2008 with the accident with Kimi (Raikkonen) being very close to a great finish, but it didn’t happen. This year is a very different situation. I have a good car, and it doesn’t matter which weather is around,” Sutil said.
“If we have a good qualifying there, which is very important, a couple of points are possible there, or even more,” he added.
For teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi, it would be his 50th race start and the Italian is looking forward to put his best foot forward.
“I never counted, but it’s good to know. It’s good to know I have been in this business for quite a while and reaching 50 races is an achievement and it feels particularly nice to be able to do this in Monaco,” said Liuzzi.
“I love the track, it’s a great race and we always have some highlights there. I really want to be back in the points to celebrate my 50th race,” said Liuzzi.
