Robert Fernley: “I think they both did a fabulous job”
Thursday ,29 December 2011
Sahara Force India achieved its 2011 target of finishing sixth in the constructors’ championship after a great end to the season in Brazil saw Adrian Sutil finish sixth and Paul Di Resta eighth
Indeed the team closed to within four points of Lotus Renault GP in the final standings. The focus now turns to the new car, and preparations for the 2012 season. We asked Deputy Team Principal, Robert Fernley, for his thoughts.
The Brazilian GP was a great end to the 2011 season for the team. How did the race unfold for Adrian and Paul?
“We swapped strategies for Adrian at the beginning of the race, because the tyres were not going quite the distance that we thought they would, so we moved him to a three-stop in order that we could keep him up front. With Paul we wanted to try and get the two-stop to try and cover anyone else doing that. But we had major gearbox problems from lap 32 or so – we lost oil, we lost KERS at one point, we got KERS back, we lost the seamless shift. How Paul got it home, I don’t know!.”
The team achieved the target of sixth place in the World Championship, but having come so close to catching Renault do you have any regrets about points missed here and there earlier in the season?
“No, I don’t think so really. Clearly our goal was to make sure we got sixth. Of course it would have been a nice bonus and wishful thinking to think you would have got fifth. The season is what it is, and I am sure Renault could also say, ‘If we done better at such and such a race we could have kept the gap.’ You have to deal with what you have. I just think it was a good, solid effort. The team’s come home in a very strong sixth, really challenging for fifth, and we got Adrian home in ninth place, which was another goal. And Paul was the best placed rookie. I don’t think that we could have done an awful lot better than that, considering we had a bit of a late start in terms of getting the car working. What we’ve got to do know is come out of the blocks and really charge for fifth place in 2012.”
How would you sum up the job the drivers did this year?
“I think they both did a fabulous job. I think Adrian’s pass of Nico Rosberg in Brazil was excellent, and it just showed how he’s matured through the year. He had a very strong effort at getting past him, didn’t quite do it, backed off, took his time, and then made it stick the next time round. Maybe he wouldn’t have done that a year ago, so good for him!”
And Paul’s rookie season?
“I don’t think you can fault it for a first year. He’s pushed Adrian all the way. We had to do some mixed strategies towards the end of the season, which in many cases hasn’t helped Paul. But it was actually for the team, and not the driver.”
Williams is rebuilding for next year, Lotus Renault has big plans, and obviously the likes of Sauber and Toro Rosso are not going to stand still. What are your thoughts on 2012?
“Unlike this year, we have to come out of the blocks challenging for fifth place. Unless we can do that, we won’t be able to go near it. You’re right, none of those teams are going to stay still. All of them have probably got better resources than we have, so we’ve got to work harder.”
Credit: Sahara Force India Formula One Team (www.forceindiaf1.com)
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