Starting at the rear of the grid has often cooked Force India’s goose but its German driver Adrian Sutil has a hunch that Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix will be a golden opportunity to break the jinx and get into the second qualifying session (Q2).
In such a close field, Sutil reckons, better qualifying is a pre-requisite if the team is to score its maiden Formula One points this season. And his gut feeling is that he might just gatecrash into Q2 in Saturday’s qualifying session. Indian Express
He is keen to produce similar heroics this season, although he admits that it will be harder if the weather stays dry.
“I’ve had two good years in a row, and hopefully I’ll have maybe another one now,” said Sutil.
“You can have aquaplaning and end up in the wall, like in Shanghai, but it’s clear that on average we’re in the top 10 in the wet races, so it’s much easier for us to score points.”
Sutil can still vividly remember the heartbreak of last year’s late retirement.
He is confident that his Force India is now quick enough for him to at least fight for the upper midfield. ITV.com
“I just like the circuit layout and since F3 times I’ve been fast there. It’s very narrow, you have to risk quite a lot to be fast, and you have to go very close to the wall all the time.”
“Two years ago I was quickest in wet practice and we went even better last year, again in very tricky conditions with rain and a drying circuit. I’ve had two good years in a row, and hopefully I’ll have maybe another one now. But it’s always up to the conditions to a certain extent.”
Sutil added: “I think this is going to be one of our best opportunities to get into Q2.”
Force India’s other driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, has scored plenty of points in Monaco over the years, and he is very much looking forward to this weekend’s event.
“For me, Monaco is the best track in the world, one of my favourites, as the twisty track itself is phenomenal, the fans are so close to the cars so you get a real atmosphere, and the surroundings are so beautiful,” said the F1 veteran.
Charismatic team boss Vijay Mallya believes the Monaco Grand Prix is crucial for F1 as a sport and spectable. Setanta Sports
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