Force India experienced a mixed qualifying session ahead of Sunday’s Chinese grand prix.
Adrian Sutil will start the race from 10th position after managing to make it into Q3, however there was disappointment for Tonio Liuzzi. The Italian will start from 18th position after getting caught in traffic.
“We were fast in the morning and the car was reacting well to changes and seemed to have a good pace,” said Liuzzi. “Again, though, for the third time in four races I got caught in traffic, again with a Williams and an HRT. But that’s how it is, it happens, we have to look at why and then work on this.”
Liuzzi remains positive for the race, hoping he can make up a few places as the VJM03 clearly has the pace.
“I think we are in great shape for the race as the speed has been there when we were on the longer runs but when you start in 18th place it makes life much more difficult. We are still optimistic though and we keep pushing whatever happens.”
Sutil progressed through to the second segment of qualifying with the 12th quickest lap and then, on his very final lap of Q2, posted the ninth fastest time to enter Q3 for the fourth time this season. In Q3 Adrian used the softer tyre compound to post a time that was only just bettered by the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher in the dying seconds of the session.
“I think we can be very pleased with that. Again, it’s P10 – I know this position very well from the last races in Australia and Bahrain! The car is behaving very well and we can be happy about the balance we have.”