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Otmar Szafnauer: "If we finish fourth next season, it would be a huge achievement"

Published on 12 Dec 2016 10:39
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By: Dominik Wilde

Force India believe that it will be difficult for them to retain their fourth place finish in the constructors' championship next year.

The Silverstone-based team took their best ever result in their nine season history in 2016, beating Williams to fourth place, behind just Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.

However, a raft of new technical regulations will be introduced next year, something that Force India think will make it difficult for them to continue performing at such a high level.

"Of course, we always have the goal of continuing to move forward," Force India's sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer Auto Motor und Sport. "But we have to be realistic this time. If we finish fourth next season, it would be a huge achievement."

"We are losing a good driver (Nico Hulkenberg) and there are big changes in the regulations, which favour the big teams. And behind us are teams that are bigger than us, like McLaren, Williams and Renault.

"So it will be difficult to defend fourth next year," he added.

Force India reportedly requested an advance on their prize money payments for 2017, but Szafnauer has denied that that shows the team are behind schedule with their new car.

"Everything looks good," he said. "We are on schedule."

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

It probably will be, but we really know very little about how the next season might pan out. We can just guess that the top 3 will be Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, but the rest is a bit more vague. We dont know if FI will be able to retain its status as best of the rest or if Williams will be a... [Read more]

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Dec 12 2016 - 10:59

F1 News Mercedes Renault Williams McLaren Ferrari Force India

Replies (3)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
It probably will be, but we really know very little about how the next season might pan out. We can just guess that the top 3 will be Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, but the rest is a bit more vague. We dont know if FI will be able to retain its status as best of the rest or if Williams will be able to catch them, and we dont know where McLaren will be next year and how much the fuel/oil-supplier switch will affect them (probably not much, seeing as Honda apparently has strong ties with Castrol already), and we dont know how much Renault, Sauber, Haas and Manor will progress.
- + 1
- Dec 12 2016 - 10:59
- Patentprutser
  
  Posts: 392
  What about Torro Rosso. When the Renault motor really makes the promissed progress, the STR is an aerodynamic, great car. I think they can even become fourth next year.
  + 0
  
  Dec 12 2016 - 15:42
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Well yes, I forgot about them, but they are more than likely set to be in a fight for fourth. And lets not forget that TR also seem keen on collaborating more with Red Bull, a collab that'll likely benefit both teams greatly.
  + 1
  
  Dec 12 2016 - 16:50