Source: Force India Media
F1 News
Force India now aiming for sixth place
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Racing Point Force India had to start from scratch last weekend after going through administration and adopting a new name, meaning the old goal of getting fourth in the championship has been adjusted by team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
The Romanian-born American saw his team getting off to an amazing start under the team's new name, as Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon finished in P5 and P6 respectively, giving the team eighteen points. They're in ninth place already, bunny-hopping Williams (four points), and only one point behind Sauber, who have nineteen. Toro Rosso are up next with 30 points.
However, the eventual goal is to reach sixth place, which is currently occupied by McLaren with 52 points, 34 points more than the Pink Panthers. With eight races to go, Szafnauer fancies his team's chances of overtaking the British outfit.
"If everything goes well from now on, we can beat McLaren and finish sixth," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
Another incentive for RPFI would be the prize money they would get, which is quite significant. The difference for the fifth and seventh team, for example, is thirteen million dollars in prize money.