JOIN USForce India aim to be back among points as F1 returns to Europe
Force India started the 2011 season on a promising note with four points from races in Australia and Malaysia. But the team failed to capitalise on the impressive qualifying pace set by drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta in the China and Turkey and finished without points.
Most teams are familiar with the 4.6km Circuit de Catalunya track here and Force India, with upgrades on the car, are keen to make an impact.
“I am really looking forward to this weekend because I probably know Barcelona better than any other track on the calendar. We did two tests there in the winter and I had four days in the car so I already feel quite well prepared. It is a track that all the drivers know like the back of their hand and the teams have so much data already," said di Resta.
“The aim for the weekend is to get back in the points. We have been close to the top ten in all the races, so hopefully we can stay in the hunt." The team's more experienced driver, Sutil, will be under pressure to perform after being slower than his rookie team mate for major part of the season. The German will have a point to prove on the race track after being accused of physical assault on Renault owner Eric Luz in a Shanghai nightclub during the Chinese Grand Prix last month.
Sutil rated the track as 'difficult' and the one which encourage overtaking.
“The first three corners are quite difficult. It is a quick complex and it is important to get Turn One right to have the correct line through the next couple of corners," said Sutil of the circuit comprising 16 turns.
"The first and second sectors are high speed and you need to have the right aero balance. But the final part of the lap is quite slow and the mechanical set-up is more important. The difficult thing is to find the golden middle. I think we should see some overtaking. There is a long straight and tyre degradation will be high. I am sure the race will be a bit different to what we have seen in previous years," he added.