Motorsport Week continues its annual team-by-team review and ratings. Today it's time to look at how Force India faired in what was a difficult season off-track for the pink squad.
This was an inevitably tumultuous campaign for the team as off-track matters finally reared their head mid-season, resulting in a takeover and re-entry, the consequences of which caused arguments and legal disputes that have yet to be resolved. That saga, and belt-tightening, meant the VJM11 was underdeveloped for much of the year, meaning the points results – and podium – acted as further evidence of the team’s resilience and efficiency. It would have been fifth without the mid-season exclusion, not far off Renault’s coat-tails, and in reality kept up the pressure on McLaren for sixth. The challenge now is to maintain its efficient streak and developmental nous – its calling cards – now that it is flushed with greater resources.
If they were a football team they’d be: Bournemouth. Likeable and efficient. They shouldn’t be this high up, and yet they are.
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Best Race: The sight of the two Pink Panthers flanking the leaders in Belgium was brilliant. |  |
Worst Race: Singapore. One driver went mental. The other paid the price. |
Perez relinquished his status as ‘best of the rest’ after two years but finished only fractionally behind Nico Hulkenberg in the standings in the wake of a “mentally intense” season. Perez conceded the team’s off-track strife had been a distraction, due to his personal involvement, and he cut a subdued figure. But after the summer break he missed out on points only twice and frequently made up for his one-lap deficit to Esteban Ocon. And, as ever, when the opportunity for a podium presented itself Perez grasped it with both hands, passing an ailing Sebastian Vettel on merit to seal a top-three result in a dramatic Azerbaijan GP. Those dubious moments remain (see: Singapore), but more often than not he remains an asset to this team.
Where to improve: Qualifying pace against Ocon was lacking but he makes up for it in the race. Moments of madness remain but for Force India, that’s a trade-off worth taking for the high points.
Surprising Stat: He has had only four mechanical retirements in his 100-race Force India career.
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Best Race: Azerbaijan. Give him a sniff and he’s there. | |
Worst Race: Singapore. What was that? |
This year was something of a mixed bag for Ocon. His qualifying record was superb, at times he was utterly brilliant (he was exceptional in Monaco) and given better fortune he would be in a Renault seat next season. But he missed some opportunities, was out-paced in race trim too often, and finished the season towards the rear of the tight midfield battle, with a few scrappy outings. Whether that was fuelled by frustration at seeing contemporaries receiving the chances he feels he deserves is open to interpretation. Ocon undoubtedly deserves a place on the grid and he is desperately unlucky to have missed out – but there’s worse places to be than fully embedded within the F1 champions’ operation. 2019 behaviour and commitment will be vital for his 2020 prospects.
Where to improve: He’s young and inexperienced but is prone to rash judgements. Poor split-second errors in Azerbaijan and Brazil were costly in terms of points (former) and reputation (latter).
Surprising Stat: Ocon was the only midfielder to qualify in the top three this year.
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Best Race: Monaco. | |
Worst Race: Brazilian blunder was bad. |
