10/06/2018
NEWS STORY
Sahara Force India scored two points in today's Canadian Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon racing to ninth place ahead of Sergio Perez in P14.
Esteban Ocon: "It's good to pick up more points, but we had the potential to score even more today. I had a fantastic first lap and got ahead of Hulkenberg, which was the target, and I was running well in seventh place. Then we had a small issue at the pit stop, which cost us a couple of seconds, and it dropped me down behind both of the Renaults. From there I tried my best to fight back and I came close to catching Sainz in the final few laps, but it wasn't possible to overtake, especially after he cut the track and gained some time on the final lap when I was about to overtake him. It's a shame because the strategy should have worked really well. I will focus on the positives because it's been a strong performance by the team this weekend. We can be satisfied with what we have done here. The pace has been competitive, but we need to keep pushing."
Sergio Perez: "I am very disappointed to come away from this race with no points. The start was good, although I didn't make up any places, but the restart after the Safety Car was even better and I managed to pass Carlos [Sainz]. I was very surprised when he hit me because I gave him more than enough room and I was ahead: that wasn't good enough and that's why I asked for a penalty on the radio. I was able to save the car [from crashing] but by then my race was compromised. We tried something different with the strategy - going for a two-stopper - but it wasn't enough to get back in the points. Overtaking was impossible, with these cars you can't follow another car and pass them unless you have a big advantage. It's a shame because I feel we had the pace to be mixing with the Renaults and we should have scored some good points."
Otmar Szafnauer: "To come away with just two points is a bit disappointing considering the speed we've shown across the weekend. Esteban drove well and we just unfortunately had a slow pit stop with a delay fitting the rear jack, which ultimately ended our chance of beating the Renaults. Sergio was racing very well until Sainz hit him, forcing him off the road, and dropped him outside the points. He had made the overtake so it was extremely disappointing to lose four or five places as a result. It effectively ended his afternoon. So a mixed result today, but we take encouragement from the speed we have shown in both qualifying and the race, and it's good to keep picking up important points."