Force India aims to beat Red Bull

Force India deputy team principle Bob Fernley has said that the team are aiming to beat Red Bull in the constructors championship this season.

The British-based team struggled at the beginning of the campaign, and quickly announced that they would introduce a b-spec car at the British Grand Prix.

However, they continued to score a handful of points in the early races and have not been cut adrift from their rivals in the standings.

Fernley told AUTOSPORT: "Fourth is the next target. Of course, we have to be realistic, so let's wait till Silverstone, but if it delivers level of performance we think it will do, then we are hopeful."

The much-coveted b-spec car will be introduced this weekend, and Fernley has paid tribute to his team of designers.

"I'm very proud of the team, they have done an amazing job. We're at the end of six-month programme since we started the aero reconstruction with the new philosophy and moved to a new windtunnel at same time,” he said.

"The new car will be the first test of that move but I'm very encouraged by it. We were slightly up against it after the Barcelona test but we have delivered phenomenal reliability and dug deep.

"The reliability comes from the factory and design, [and we've had] excellent, aggressive strategies and two super drivers who have taken every opportunity which has been given to them.

"Fortunately, others have tripped up along the way. If you had asked me in Australia if we would be remotely close to fifth place, never mind in fifth place after eight races, I think I would have snapped your hand off. It's a thrill."

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