Never Underestimate The Force

The summer break may be upon us but we're still feeling the Force and ready to get those engines revved up for Spa. It really is hard to believe that it's already half way through the 2015 F1 season. This season is going quicker than a Sahara Force India up Eau Rouge and is giving us the same thrill. What better way to pass the time over the break with a little half term report on the Silverstone based team.

Starting at the top. A double points finish for the team at the season opener in Australia, was a solid start to the new F1 season by Sahara Force India. Being on the cusp of the Top 10 all weekend was a great way to kick start 2015. 

In the mist of things

With the ever changing weather conditions came the Malaysian Grand Prix. A rain soaked qualifying held off Perez and Hulkenberg from making it into Q3. The inspiration for Race day at the Sepang International Circuit for both drivers' came from The Ice Capades with a Lotus and a Red Bull being sent into a spinning frenzy. Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio were handed a 10 second penalty for the little miss hap. 

China was a difficult weekend for the team with Nico Hulkenberg being knocked out in Q1 on Saturday and having to retire from the race due to a gear box issue. There were positive signs when Sergio Perez just missed out on a points finish, but no time was to rest and it was on to the Bahrain.

The Bahrain Grand Prix saw a Sahara Force India into Q3 for the first time in 2015. Nico Hulkenberg firmly placed his car into 8th position to his and the teams delight. Sergio Perez just missed out on Q3 but managed to turn the performance round in the race as he scored his second points of the season after finishing 8th. 

Olé and it's off to the Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix which brought a tough fight for the Sahara Force India's as they failed to make it out of Q1 in qualifying and missed out on points in the race. With their heads held high it was time for the race weekend with the most used cliché of all time in F1, the Jewel in the Crown. Monaco baby!

I'm ready for my close up

Sergio Perez made his first Q3 appearance of the season in Monaco securing 7th on the grid whilst team mate Nico Hulkenberg lined up in 13th for the race. Perez converted his Qualifying position into his Race position bagging six points and making it his third points finish of the season. An 11th place for Hulkenberg meant he just missed out on points at the principality.
Canada was next up and it proved to be a solid weekend for Sahara Force India. Both cars were in and around the Top 10 in all Practice sessions, and when Qualifying arrived both drivers' reached Q3 for the first time this season, with Nico Hulkenberg starting on the fourth row on the grid in 7th and Sergio Perez starting behind him in 10th position. The Wall of Champions didn't make any Sahara Force India friends and Nico Hulkenberg cleaned up in 8th whilst Sergio Perez ended the race in 11th.

The Red Bull Ring was next on the agenda. A season best Qualifying performance by Nico Hulkenberg meant Sahara Force India would start the Austrian Grand Prix in 5th. Damp conditions at the beginning of the session led Sergio Perez to just miss out on Q2 and he lined up 16th on the grid. Perez had a corker of a race making up making seven places to finish 9th and Nico Hulkenberg made it a double points finish with his 6th place.
Coming into the British Grand Prix, the home race of Sahara Force India, the team introduced a new version of their VJM08 which featured a snazzy new shorter nose with 'nostrils' or air vents. The new spec worked wonders as the team had a back to back double points finish after a 7th and 9th place was bagged by Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.

The Hungarian Grand Prix wasn't the best way to end the first half of the 2015 season for Sahara Force India as both cars unfortunately had to retire. Sergio Perez had a brakes issue and Nico Hulkenberg had a front wing malfunction which led to an incident for the German driver. The weekend overall wasn't as straight forward as expected after a freak accident in FP1 for Sergio Perez meant both drivers were kept out of FP2 for a safety precaution whilst the team investigated the accident. Luckily Perez was unharmed and was back in the car for the rest of the weekend.

A game of hide and seek

Sahara Force India are currently sitting pretty in 5th position in the 2015 Constructors Championship with nine points finishes to their name and three double points finishes. Being in their highest ever position in the Constructors table so far this season, they are definitely a Force to be reckoned with amongst their competitors.