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Force India have a knack for getting the biggest bang for their small bucks in the Formula One championship.
The past two seasons have seen the independent squad from Silverstone finish fourth in the constructors’ championship, behind only the front-running forces of Mercedes AMG, Ferrari and Red Bull.
McLaren, Renault and even Haas, who all boast bigger budgets, couldn’t compete with Force India, who proved it isn’t about how much money you have but how it is utilised.
2018 was expected to see a change of fortunes, with the sleeping giants in McLaren and Renault predicted to become involved in that coveted battle for fourth in the championship. To an extent that has been realised, as the aforementioned factories are in the thick of it – though Force India haven’t fallen too far behind.
The ‘Pink Panthers’, as they’re presented nowadays, finished as the best of the rest at the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend, with Esteban Ocon crossing the line an impressive sixth, having started from that position.
“The pace we had in the car was unbelievable,” Ocon said. “I was quickest on track at some points which was very, very impressive. I was catching [Kimi] Räikkönen and [Valtteri] Bottas by one second a lap at some point.
“I think our understanding of the tyres was really, really good, really strong. Today I’m more than happy, the boys are really happy, and I’m looking forward to many more weekends like that.”
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Sitting sixth in the constructors’ standings following the first six races, Force India is the only team beyond the top-three to have had a podium finish to their name too, courtesy of midfield specialist Sergio Perez in Baku.
Even though they are 20 points adrift of fourth-placed Renault, Force India have maximised their opportunities more than the French manufacturer, as well as McLaren and even Haas – whose car speed on paper is stronger than all three constructors.
Renault continue to make inroads following their return to the sport in 2016 but are chasing more ponies from their power-unit – while Force India still have the mighty Mercedes-Benz. McLaren, meanwhile, underwent a slow adjustment to Renault power, having switched from Honda after three tumultuous years but still have underdelivered on a chassis front.
For Haas, it has been a case of being let down by their driver, Romain Grosjean, who remains without championship points this season. Kevin Magnussen demonstrated the VF-18’s capabilities in Melbourne and in Bahrain, with the season’s curtain raiser ultimately being cruelled by a botched pit-stop and a team-best result of fifth at the latter.
The driver combination of Ocon and Perez at Force India, despite having been combustible at times, has proven successful and that contributes significantly to their exploitation of solid results.
The management roster of Bob Fernley and Otmar Szafnauer deserves a fair share of the credit too, given the position the team are in financially due to the businesses that Force India’s owners have found themselves in.
It makes one contemplate whether, as a manufacturer team, could this humble outfit find themselves in the same echelons as Red Bull, given how well they can design and continuously develop their cars.
But sixth will still be an accomplishment for Force India this year if they can finish ahead of the hyped Haas team – as the likes of McLaren and Renault are going to use their budgets to drive into another macrocosm.
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