Force India: ‘Points have lifted morale’

Force India deputy team principle Bob Fernley has admitted that the points they scored in Australia are a massive confident boost to the whole team.

Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh, while his team-mate, Sergio Pérez eventually ninth after a tough, race.

Force India had a turbulent winter, and only completed two days of winter testing in their 2015 car.

Fernley told AUTOSPORT: "The team have come out after a tough winter and being late into testing but we have had a car that has been incredibly reliable from the minute it was launched.

"That gave us the benefit in the race. And we had a good strategy to make the best of what we had.

"The team should be pleased and it's positive to go back to the factory with some points under our belt because it lifts the morale."

Force India are expected to bring a major package to the Spanish Grand Prix in May, and Fernley says that they will continue to pick up as many points as possible, between now and then.

"That has to be the policy. The consistency of the team has brought us through and if we can get ourselves picking the points where it's possible until we can get the upgrade through, at that point hopefully we can be in the points on merit rather than opportunity.

"We were expecting a few incidents and casualties in the race, probably not quite as many as there were, but you have to be there to take the opportunity and the team did a good job,” he added.

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