The Sahara Force India F1 Team are heading into their 100th Grand Prix at this weekends Canadian Grand Prix, so I thought what better way to reflect on the past 99 races than to pick out some of their highlights.
The Silverstone based squad burst onto the scene with their Indian flavour in 2008 but it took time for them to start picking up results. They had some rare high points in 2009 before they started challenging in the midfield in 2010. Now they currently sit fifth in the constructors standings, ahead of former front runners McLaren.
Despite their current finding of form, Force India have yet to reach the top step of the podium. A cemented midfield runner, the Vijay Mallya run squad have just one podium finish to their name alongside a number of strong top 10 finishes.
Their eye is firmly set on returning to the top three but whether the time comes in 2013 is another matter, they have come close so far but have yet to find that extra boost to get them there.
Here are my personal top five highlights of Force India's 99 races so far, lets hope the 100th and the next 100 continue to see their upward progression.
Belgium 2009 - Fisichella lights up the track
Giancarlo Fisichella was on fire (not literally) at the Spa Francorchamps circuit, taking a shock pole position by a tenth of a second. It was an impressive debut pole for the Force India team on a track that they knew would suit them, although continuing development and a near perfect lap by Fisichella certainly helped them reach the front.
Despite missing out on the illusive debut victory, it was a strong run from Fisichella who led the cars way and managed to fend off the KERS powered cars from behind. After a brief safety car period for a first lap crash that took out eventual champion Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen was hot on the Giancarlo's heals in his Ferrari. He used the added power boost to good affect and took the lead on lap five. However he didn't have it easy and Fisichella hounded the 'Iceman' all the way to the chequered flag - the gap rarely stretched over one second. Although they lost a potential race victory the team still recorded their debut podium finish, and a well deserved on at that.
Italy 2009 - Sutil excels in qualifying
The race result may not have been what was originally hoped for, but qualifying for the 2009 Italian Grand Prix was one of the stand out performances by a Force India driver. This was after Adrian Sutil, who was racing in his third season for the team, rounded out the front row with a time just two tenths clear of pole sitter Hamilton. The track played to the strengths of the cars strong low down force performance and straight line speed.
Come Sunday's race, Sutil managed to pick up a strong haul of points with fourth place (which remains his best career result to date). Off the line the German was powerless to the KERS boosted Kimi Raikkonen and dropped to third place by the first corner. He lost out to the two Brawn GP drivers on strategy - who went on to claim a 1-2 finish - but he did leapfrog Lewis Hamilton after the Brit crashed on the final lap. Even more impressive was the fact that he picked up Force India's first fastest lap and that Fisichella's replacement (after he moved over to Ferrari to replace the woeful Luca Badoer) Vitantonio Luizzi had been on course for points too until his unfortunate retirement.
Bahrain 2013 - Di Resta narrowly escapes debut podium
The 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix was arguably (and in my opinion) Paul Di Resta's best ever race so far. The Scot was quietly impressive in qualifying to set the seventh fastest time (he lined up fifth on the grid after penalties were handed out to Webber and Hamilton) but it was the race where he really starred. He proved his worth by nursing the tyres and making a risky two stop strategy work.
Whilst Di Resta benefited from the troubles experienced by Massa, who suffered a puncture, Alonso (who's DRS stuck open) and pole-sitter Rosberg, tyre problems dropped him to ninth, he also put in a mature and clever drive to nurse his tyres to the flag. He lost a place to Raikkonen due to the superiority of the Lotus E21 but managed to keep up with the leaders with impressive ease. With the chequered flag closing in, Di Resta sat in third place but Grosjean was on the attack. Di Resta's strategy meant he was vulnerable from the Frenchman's charge and he duly overtook him into turn one which dropped him off the podium. Despite the disappointing end result it was a strong race from Paul after he showed stunning control and consistency.
Monaco 2008 - Sutil cruelly punted out of first points finish
The 2008 Monaco Grand Prix had so much potential, what a shame it couldn't be fulfilled. It was the teams debut season but German charger Adrian Sutil was relishing the wet conditions. He had qualified a lowly 18th in the dry Saturday session and without the wet conditions, he would have probably failed to make much of an impact from his starting position.
Sutil managed to climb his way through the field and negotiated two safety cars to run in fourth place. He had been the most active driver on the grid, passing cars left right and centre as well as benefiting from others problems. Running fourth was the highest place he had driven in all of his career but on lap 68 that all changed. Kimi Raikkonen, who was running just behind Sutil, lost control under braking for the Nouvelle Chicane. His Ferrari ran into the back of Sutil's Force India and forced the latters retirement, a cruel blow for the German after a strong run in changeable conditions.
Brazil 2012 - Hulkenberg makes his return to the front
It wasn't pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix but two years after his impressive qualifying performance for Williams, Nico Hulkenberg was back in the lead of a race. The German qualified impressively in seventh place and progressed up the order in the opening laps to run third early on.
The damp conditions at the Sau Paulo track played to Hulkenberg's strengths and a strong strategy call not to pit after a brief rain shower brought him well and truly into play. He advanced ahead of the pitting Hamilton and overtook Button for the lead on lap 19, leading until a small error saw him half slide. He dropped behind the two McLaren's but attempted a move on Hamilton into the first corner. The tricky conditions saw him slide into the side of the Brit and was gifted a drive through penalty. He recovered to fifth but despite the error, it was a very impressive drive indeed from the rising star and one that caught the attention of many.
What are your top five highlights of Force India's stint in F1 so far? Comment below, let me know on Twitter or Facebook.
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| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
Despite their current finding of form, Force India have yet to reach the top step of the podium. A cemented midfield runner, the Vijay Mallya run squad have just one podium finish to their name alongside a number of strong top 10 finishes.
Their eye is firmly set on returning to the top three but whether the time comes in 2013 is another matter, they have come close so far but have yet to find that extra boost to get them there.
Here are my personal top five highlights of Force India's 99 races so far, lets hope the 100th and the next 100 continue to see their upward progression.
Belgium 2009 - Fisichella lights up the track
Giancarlo Fisichella was on fire (not literally) at the Spa Francorchamps circuit, taking a shock pole position by a tenth of a second. It was an impressive debut pole for the Force India team on a track that they knew would suit them, although continuing development and a near perfect lap by Fisichella certainly helped them reach the front.
Despite missing out on the illusive debut victory, it was a strong run from Fisichella who led the cars way and managed to fend off the KERS powered cars from behind. After a brief safety car period for a first lap crash that took out eventual champion Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen was hot on the Giancarlo's heals in his Ferrari. He used the added power boost to good affect and took the lead on lap five. However he didn't have it easy and Fisichella hounded the 'Iceman' all the way to the chequered flag - the gap rarely stretched over one second. Although they lost a potential race victory the team still recorded their debut podium finish, and a well deserved on at that.
Italy 2009 - Sutil excels in qualifying
The race result may not have been what was originally hoped for, but qualifying for the 2009 Italian Grand Prix was one of the stand out performances by a Force India driver. This was after Adrian Sutil, who was racing in his third season for the team, rounded out the front row with a time just two tenths clear of pole sitter Hamilton. The track played to the strengths of the cars strong low down force performance and straight line speed.
Come Sunday's race, Sutil managed to pick up a strong haul of points with fourth place (which remains his best career result to date). Off the line the German was powerless to the KERS boosted Kimi Raikkonen and dropped to third place by the first corner. He lost out to the two Brawn GP drivers on strategy - who went on to claim a 1-2 finish - but he did leapfrog Lewis Hamilton after the Brit crashed on the final lap. Even more impressive was the fact that he picked up Force India's first fastest lap and that Fisichella's replacement (after he moved over to Ferrari to replace the woeful Luca Badoer) Vitantonio Luizzi had been on course for points too until his unfortunate retirement.
Bahrain 2013 - Di Resta narrowly escapes debut podium
 |
| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
Whilst Di Resta benefited from the troubles experienced by Massa, who suffered a puncture, Alonso (who's DRS stuck open) and pole-sitter Rosberg, tyre problems dropped him to ninth, he also put in a mature and clever drive to nurse his tyres to the flag. He lost a place to Raikkonen due to the superiority of the Lotus E21 but managed to keep up with the leaders with impressive ease. With the chequered flag closing in, Di Resta sat in third place but Grosjean was on the attack. Di Resta's strategy meant he was vulnerable from the Frenchman's charge and he duly overtook him into turn one which dropped him off the podium. Despite the disappointing end result it was a strong race from Paul after he showed stunning control and consistency.
Monaco 2008 - Sutil cruelly punted out of first points finish
The 2008 Monaco Grand Prix had so much potential, what a shame it couldn't be fulfilled. It was the teams debut season but German charger Adrian Sutil was relishing the wet conditions. He had qualified a lowly 18th in the dry Saturday session and without the wet conditions, he would have probably failed to make much of an impact from his starting position.
Sutil managed to climb his way through the field and negotiated two safety cars to run in fourth place. He had been the most active driver on the grid, passing cars left right and centre as well as benefiting from others problems. Running fourth was the highest place he had driven in all of his career but on lap 68 that all changed. Kimi Raikkonen, who was running just behind Sutil, lost control under braking for the Nouvelle Chicane. His Ferrari ran into the back of Sutil's Force India and forced the latters retirement, a cruel blow for the German after a strong run in changeable conditions.
Brazil 2012 - Hulkenberg makes his return to the front
 |
| (c) Sahara Force India F1 Team |
The damp conditions at the Sau Paulo track played to Hulkenberg's strengths and a strong strategy call not to pit after a brief rain shower brought him well and truly into play. He advanced ahead of the pitting Hamilton and overtook Button for the lead on lap 19, leading until a small error saw him half slide. He dropped behind the two McLaren's but attempted a move on Hamilton into the first corner. The tricky conditions saw him slide into the side of the Brit and was gifted a drive through penalty. He recovered to fifth but despite the error, it was a very impressive drive indeed from the rising star and one that caught the attention of many.
What are your top five highlights of Force India's stint in F1 so far? Comment below, let me know on Twitter or Facebook.
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