By IANS,
Monaco: Force India, desperately seeking points after drawing a blank in the last three races, will look to make the most of the qualifying session going into Sunday’s Formula One Monaco Grand Prix held on the challenging street circuit in Monte Carlo.
The 3.3 km Circuit de Monaco is considered one of the toughest on the calendar for overtaking manoeuvres with the presence of narrow streets and tight corners. The track also has the famous hairpin bend, the slowest corner with the drivers running at an average speed of 50 kmph, leading to the tunnel in which the car zips at 280 kmph.
Force India would take confidence from their last year’s performance here. Both their drivers finished amongst the points. Adrian Sutil, who finished eighth, said the team aims to better the past show and a good finish in qualifying will be critical.
“Monaco has no margin for error,” said Sutil.
“Some of the modern circuits are too easy, but Monaco is a real old traditional place. The barriers are close but you respect the limit more and you have to build your speed up slowly through the weekend so that you don’t go over the limit.”
Paul Di Resta, who has been faster than the more experienced Sutil so far this season, concurred with his team mate and said Saturday’s qualifying will be the ‘key’.
“Qualifying is normally the key in Monaco. It used to decide your race. We will have to see if it’s any different this year with the nature of the Pirelli tyres and the different strategies, but I think overtaking will still be very difficult,” said di Resta.
The British driver, in his first F1 season, added that racing here will be more exciting than any other race of the year.
“With all the yachts in the harbour there is always a real buzz to the place and I know it’s going to be an exciting weekend. To go around the streets in a Formula One car, where I normally drive my road car, will feel very special,” said Di Resta, who resides in Monte Carlo.
Force India are currently eight in the Constructors’ Championship with four points from the opening two races in Australia and Malaysia.