Force India team owner Vijay Mallya has heaped praise upon Sergio Perez after the Mexican driver produced a scintillating fightback on Sunday to finish the Singapore Grand Prix in seventh place.
Both Perez and teammate Nico Hulkenberg had struggled in qualifying on Saturday, with the small points-paying positions the target for the team heading into the race on Sunday.
Perez was running well until he had a run-in with Sauber’s Adrian Sutil on track, with the German driver failing to see the car behind in his mirrors. This left Perez with a broken front wing and debris strewn across the track, sparking the first and only safety car period during yesterday’s race.
Perez rallied though, fighting back in the dying stages of the grand prix to finish an excellent seventh. Nico Hulkenberg also impressed in the sister car, taking the flag in ninth for two points.
With McLaren scoring just one point through Kevin Magnussen in tenth, Force India moved back ahead of the British team in the constructors’ championship. This haul of points also means that the team has surpassed its previous best-ever season, 2012, which yielded 109 points.
After the race, Mallya took to Twitter to congratulate the team and his drivers for their efforts in Singapore.
Incredible racing in Singapore. Delighted that Sahara Force India are now 5th in the championship and ahead of McLaren. Fighting spirit !!
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) September 21, 2014
In Monza and Singapore Checo Perez showed skill and incredible fighting spirit finishing in front of Ferrari McLaren and Williams. Exciting. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) September 21, 2014
Nico Hulkenberg drove fantastically to put us in the top ten points. Proves he is a reliable points scorer all season.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) September 21, 2014
I am most pleased today. Sahara Force India are 5th in the Formula 1 World Constructors Championship with 117 points. Highest points ever. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) September 21, 2014
Ding Dong battle with former World Champions and the much richer McLaren over the last 5 races. Sahara Force India ahead again by 6 points.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) September 21, 2014
Perez was also delighted with his own fightback, and said that he was proud of the team’s efforts to make this its best season ever.
#nevergiveup no mater how hard things are ! Today a good lesson not to give up at any Point 😀 pic.twitter.com/iiqZY38jnC
— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) September 21, 2014
Very important points for the team @clubforce wich put us in the best season in the history of team! And more coming, very proud of you guys
— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) September 21, 2014
With five races remaining, Force India will be looking to hold on and secure a quite famous result by finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship ahead of the ailing McLaren team.
