It’s summer break for F1 community. The time when fans are trying to find new ways to fill up The Sundays and teams are enjoying the well earned break.
We left the 10 races behind us. Half season brought Sahara Force India some upside downs, tricky corners and nice 39 points.
Team started at Melbourne to their 8th season in Formula 1. Albert Park is always a little kinky circuit, it comes with unknowns for all. But Sahara Force India came out with both drivers taking points to home. Both Hulkenberg and Perez fight till the end to grab valuable starting points.
In Malaysia where you can get wet either from rain showers or from sweating too much. This season we’ve seen the both. Rain was there on Saturday which didn’t help the Force India guys and then sun shined on Sunday above the Sepang unfortunately it didn’t shine on the Sahara Force India. Both car got penalties but still made a though fight for the points but it wasn’t their day.
Next Stop was China where there are many crazy fans around waiting the drivers. Shanghai wasn’t so pleasant either. Hulkenberg had a gearbox problem and couldn’t make it to home, Perez was a slide away from points but couldn’t grab them.
Last race before Europe season starting, first race of the Middle East Bahrain was offering some Hokkas and really hot race under the lights. Hulkenberg brought the first Q3 of the season, Perez missed the spot with hundredths of seconds. But points were giving on Sunday and Perez two stops strategy brought him 8th place while Hulkenberg tyres made him do 3 stops strategy.
5th race was the classic opener of the European season, Circuit The Catalunya where everyone can enjoy both circuit and beautiful Barcelona. This was the second start of the season unfortunately team didn't get what they wanted there. After a difficult Saturday Both Hulk and Checo fought hard for the points but lack of downforce didn’t help the duo.
Then time has came for the Monaco GP, a cheesy but very accurate term for the place “The Crowning Jewel of The Calendar”. The circuit where everyone knows about even non-F1 watchers. It’s already hard to drive around Monte Carlo streets, overtaking is another story so Saturday is very important for the race. Checo got himself a good place on Saturday which brought him very nice points on Sunday. But Hulkenberg’s Saturday didn't help him on Sunday even though he fought hard after his start with Alonso, it wasn't enough for double points for the team.
After cleaning the glitter of Monaco parties F1 paddock made all the way to Canada, another classic circuit. Roles were changed at the Gilles Villeneuve, Hulk made the points while Checo slightly missed the point zone.
This season Sahara Force India made the coolest move and let their driver race also for Le Mans, Hulkenberg was racing at Le Mans 24 hours before Austrian GP and wrote a history there by winning it. Can you think much better way to prepare a race by than more racing. How cool is that?
The team got the double points in the old but new on the calendar Spielberg, and maybe with the motivation of the Le Mans Hulkenberg brought the best result to the team with 6th position.
Home Sweet Home, Silverstone , the place where F1 born. Probably Force India mechanics can push VJMH08 to Silverstone, their factory is that close. The home influence brought team also double points with 7th and 9th place on the grid with a spectacular race.
The last race before shutting the factory down for a while was the Hungarian GP where the circuit celebrated it’s 30th birthday but due to unlucky moments Sahara Force India couldn’t celebrate that day.
Photos by; Vladimir Rys and http://www.nicohulkenberg.net/
