26/09/2010
NEWS STORY
The Force India F1 Team picked up further points to add to its 2010 championship tally in today's Singapore Grand Prix. Adrian Sutil put in a fighting drive to eighth position despite starting from 15th on the grid. Adrian moved up through the field thanks to a creative strategy that saw him pit on lap three under the first safety car period. When the rest of the field pitted he moved steadily up the order to secure four points.
Tonio Liuzzi had a frustrating race after an incident on the first lap pushed him into the wall. At first it appeared Tonio had not picked up any problems, but the right rear suspension had been damaged in the impact and gave way the following lap.
Adrian Sutil: It was a really hard race today, in the heat and the humidity and having to race the whole way - I always had a car following really closely behind! Starting from 15th on the grid, I think this was the maximum we could have done. It's a fantastic result, particularly after the disappointment yesterday. I said before it is very important to score every single point we can so we can keep ahead of Williams in the constructors' championship. That's why I tried so hard to keep Hulkenberg behind - any points we get are very important. We now go onto Suzuka, one of my favourite tracks, where I'll try my best to keep everything on track until the end of the season.
Tonio Liuzzi: It was a difficult first lap. I had a good start and I was trying to overtake Heidfeld, who went straight on into turn seven side by side with Adrian. I was holding my line but after the corner they both came back on the line and I was squeezed into the wall. I had some contact with Heidfeld and damaged the front wing a little and then I must have cracked the rear suspension as well as the lap after it broke completely and I lost the rear end. It's really disappointing as looking at how the race developed I think we could have picked up a good finish. Anyway, it will be onto Japan now where I hope we can have a much better race.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal: We knew Singapore wouldn't suit us as much as other tracks but we got the best outcome we could today. We got back in the points again - every single one counts at this stage in the championship. Adrian drove a great race, keeping a whole stream of cars behind him on very used tyres, and deserved his eighth position. Unfortunately Tonio retired early on after a racing incident. Given how qualifying went yesterday, to get one points finish is satisfying and we can now move onto the circuits that should work more to our advantage.
Note: Following a stewards' enquiry the Force India F1 Team's Adrian Sutil was handed a 20 second post-race drivethrough penalty for leaving the track at turn seven on the first lap of the Singapore Grand Prix and gaining an advantage. The penalty demoted Adrian to 10th position.
However the Stewards upheld a protest stating that Nico Hulkenberg had also left the track on lap one of the race and gained an advantage. The Williams driver was also awarded a 20 second drivethrough penalty. With the combined penalties Adrian thus moves to ninth position overall.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal: Naturally I'm very disappointed to lose eighth position but we minimised the loss when Hulkenberg was awarded the same penalty. Onwards and upwards to Suzuka now where we hope to add even more points to our total.
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