New Delhi: Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley expects his team to remain in contention for further podiums after the Silverstone-based squad achieved its first Formula One top-three finish in five years at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
Sergio Perez held off the challenge from Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and finished the 57-lap race in third place, 0.422 seconds ahead of the Australian, who was on the softer tyres.
Perez’s team mate Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth giving Force India 25 points from the race, their best showing in F1.
“There is every reason to expect further podiums from Force India. All teams are still working on optimising their power units and aero performance and we too will be working on improving the car,” Fernley told PTI from Bahrain, a day after his team stepped on the podium only for the second time.
Giancarlo Fisichella had come second for the team at Spa in 2009.
Although Force India and other teams with Mercedes engines have done well in the early part of the season, one can expect the Renault-powered Red Bull and Ferrari to bounce back in the upcoming races.
A lot of development work is expected to take place in the two-day mid-season testing beginning at the Sakhir Circuit on Tuesday.
Fernley said their focus would be on “enhancing” the performance of the car. (PTI)