Drivers: Sergio Perez – 7th, 101 points; Nico Hulkenberg – 9th, 72 points
Best grid position: 2nd – Hulkenberg, Austria
Best race result: 3rd – Perez, Monaco, Azerbaijan
2016 World Constructors Championship Position (2015, 2014): 4th (5th, 6th)
Despite operating on a fairly lean budget compared to the bigger teams around them, Force India consistently seem to punch above their weight. Sixth in 2014 was their strongest season at that point, and they went one better in 2015. They had a very strong finish in the second of those years, and were looking to use that as a springboard into 2016.
Force India F1 2016 Review
Despite showing strong pace in testing, Force India – running with the same driver line-up as had brought them such strong results over the past two years, did not start brightly. Just one points finish from the first three races was in part due to first-lap collisions. The team would pick up points at Russia and in Spain with Perez, but a collision and a fire would take Hulkenberg out at Russia and Spain respectively.
Monaco was really a turning point of the season. Rivals Williams would struggle in the rain, as they often have done, whilst some excellent strategy helped Perez to third, whilst Hulkenberg came home sixth. Canada was so-so with just five points scored before the team would find the sweet spot at the new Azerbaijan circuit almost instantly. Hulkenberg and Perez would both make errors over the weekend, but the Mexican came home for a second podium in three races.
Both cars would be eliminated late on at Austria before the team would score points on nine occasions out of ten chances over the next five races, and finishing 11th with Perez at Hungary. Included in this run was a brilliant 4-5, led by Hulkenberg in pursuit of his maiden podium.
Except for the two collisions at Singapore and Texas involving Hulkenberg, points were scored by both cars at every race until the end of the season from Germany onwards. Another race where Force India starred was at Brazil, where both drivers were in contention for a podium, and Hulkenberg perhaps would have finished there if not for a puncture.
Despite the puncture, Hulkenberg came home seventh, whilst Perez came home fourth, and the battle between Force India and Williams was all but over after that race in favour of the Indian team. The only teams in front of Force India in the championship were Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.
There will be change at Force India for next year, as Hulkenberg gets his chance with a factory team at Renault. Mercedes junior driver Esteban Ocon will line up alongside Perez, for a season which will see Force India attempt to retain its fourth place in the standings. That will be tough, as the likes of Renault and McLaren are expected to make substantial gains over the winter.
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