Force India supremo Vijay Mallya thinks Force India can regularly fight for podiums after Sergio Perez’s third-place finish at the Bahrain GP.
Perez is only the second man in Force India colours to achieve a podium finish – the team’s other success coming back in 2009 when Giancarlo Fisichella achieved second at the Belgian GP.
The Silverstone-based side are currently sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship after three races and Mallya is hopeful that his side will continue to keep the pace with the F1 big-boys regardless of his team’s price of 201.00 for Constructors’ Championship success.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the team principal said: “It has always been our motive. I know our limitations, but I also know what we are capable of. I think for the last few years we have demonstrated that we always punch way above our weight and whilst others might be developing their car we aren’t sleeping either.
“We are going to come with upgrades as well – we have a great base product, we have shown that in the last three races and hopefully we will keep the pressure on everybody else.”
After seeing his Mexican driver come over the line Mallya was one of the first to rush and congratulate him. Perez, who had a torrid time at McLaren last season and has been outperformed by team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in the first two Grand Prix races, finally looks settled, his sublime race proved this. If he and Hulkenberg keep on racing like they did in Bahrain then Force India could be looking at their most fruitful campaign in their history.
Next up for Mallya and his side is China, a place where Force India have finished no higher than eighth, and if Perez and Hulkenberg are again competing for podiums then Force India will be impossible to ignore.
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