Di Resta fetches a point for Force India
April 10th, 2011 - 6:41 pm ICT by IANSSepang (Malaysia), April 10 (IANS) Force India finished amongst the points for the second consecutive time this season while Narain Karthikyean could only complete 14 laps in his Hispania at the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix here Sunday.
Defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull won his second consecutive race (1:37:39.832) ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button (1:37:43.093) and Renault’s Nick Hiedfeld (1:38:04.907).
Force India rookie driver Paul di Resta (1:39:11.395) clocked the 10th fastest time at the chequered flag to secure a point at the Sepang International Circuit. The British driver finished at a similar position in the season-opener Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago.
The team’s senior driver Adrian Sutil (1:39:21.211) came one place behind Di Resta but was out of the points bracket. The Vijay Mallya owned outfit now has four points from two races and are lying 7th in the constructors championship.
Di Resta was pleased to earn a point but said he wanted to overtake the seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, who finished ninth and collected two points.
“I am quite happy I must say. The team did a good job with the strategy. I just could not hold off Michael at the end. He had fresher tyres and we had to stop a bit earlier for my third stop than predicted. But I also did not want to risk the championship point. We were battling with cars that were a little bit quicker than us today, so overall I think we had a great race,” said di Resta.
Meanwhile, things did not go according to plan to for India’s Karthikeyan. He had come into the race after an improved performance in the qualifying Saturday where he was able make it to the starting grid by falling under the 107 percent time rule. But the reliability of the two-race old car F111 was always going to be a tough ask and Karthikyean was forced to retire on the 14th lap.
Hispania’s other driver Vitantonio Liuzzi managed 46 laps out of the 56-lap race.
The next race is scheduled in Shanghai April 15-17.
- Vettel claims another pole, Sutil sneaks into 10th at European GP - Jun 25, 2011
- No points for Force India, Karthikeyan 21st at Turkish GP - May 08, 2011
- Gearbox penalty for di Resta - Sep 08, 2012
- Italian GP: Di Resta's 8th place puts Force India ahead of Sauber - Sep 11, 2011
- Force India disappoint, Vettel wins Spanish Grand Prix - May 22, 2011
- Hamilton takes pole in Malaysian GP, Force India disappoint - Mar 24, 2012
- Webber claims pole, Di Resta 6th fastest at British GP - Jul 09, 2011
- Di Resta earns four points for Force India - Sep 09, 2012
- Force India's Hulkenberg finishes fourth in Belgium - Sep 02, 2012
- Force India bags maiden Q3 position at Chinese Grand Prix - Apr 16, 2011
- Vettel races to another victory, Sutil finishes 9th at European GP - Jun 26, 2011
- Force India's Di Resta feels making Q3 will be tough - Mar 23, 2012
- Formula One: Force India fail to score a point - Jul 29, 2012
- Alonso wins dramatic Malaysian GP, Force India in top-10 - Mar 25, 2012
- Karthikeyan completes race for first time, no points for Force India - Apr 17, 2011
Tags: adrian sutil, australian grand prix, champion michael schumacher, chequered flag, consecutive time, defending champion, force india, hispania, jenson button, lap race, liuzzi, malaysian grand prix, rookie driver, sebastian vettel, sepang international circuit, sepang malaysia, starting grid, time rule, time world champion, vijay mallya