2013 Canadian Grand Prix: Sahara Force India race report

Paul di Resta of Great Britain and Force India drives during the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 9, 2013 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Sahara Force India celebrated its 100th race today and scored seven points with Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil finishing in seventh and tenth places in the Canadian Grand Prix.

P7 Paul Di Resta VJM06-04

Tyre strategy: New medium, new super-soft

Paul: “To finish the race in seventh having started 17th is a great result and a top job by the team. I didn’t manage to get any long run data on Friday so it feels extra sweet to make this one-stop strategy work with a very long stint on the mediums. It also feels good to come back so strong after a difficult qualifying session. The tyres lasted very well, the lap times were competitive and the team told me it was my decision about when to make my stop. As soon as I felt the tyres starting to drop off, I came in. Then it was a case of looking after the supersofts for the final few laps.”

P10 Adrian Sutil VJM06-03

Tyre strategy: New supersoft, new medium, new medium

Adrian: “That race was quite an adventure so it’s good to come away with a point given everything that happened. I had a spin when I tried to overtake Bottas, which cost me quite a few positions and I was lucky nobody hit me when I was in the middle of the track. I dropped back and the pack was bunched together, which is when Maldonado ran into the back of me and damaged my rear wing. Even with all those things I was running in eighth until the drive-through penalty. I don’t think it was a fair penalty because I too had to lap so many cars today and it sometimes took one or two laps, and that’s normal for this circuit. The penalty cost me two positions and three points.”

Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal

“It’s great to see both our cars in the points at our 100th Grand Prix. It brings our tally to 51 points and strengthens our fifth position in the championship. Paul showed his fighting spirit with a remarkable drive to seventh with just one stop. The car had great pace and he looked after his medium compound tyres extremely well. I don’t think anybody thought there were 56 laps in those tyres but he pulled it out of the bag. Adrian’s afternoon was rather more eventful, but it was a disappointment to pick up the penalty in the closing laps so it’s something we need to review. Overall I think we should be pleased with the outcome after a challenging weekend. The car remains competitive and we can hopefully carry our form into our local race at Silverstone at the end of the month.”