Sunday: Force India, struggling, still finish in the top 10 at Hockenheim
While the Indian team had prepared for intense heat, Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Perez were surprised by the cooler temperatures but managed to finish in the points at the German Grand Prix in F1.
Nico Hülkenberg (#27) – 7th
For the German driver, the change in weather conditions posed a problem: « It was a difficult and different race from what was expected, mainly due to track temperatures being 20°C cooler than on Friday. We anticipated a lot of degradation at the rear, but after a few laps, it clearly became apparent that the front tires were the limiting factor, and that changed everything. It was a very tough afternoon, and considering the feelings with the car, I think we got the maximum out of the race. »
Furthermore, midway through, he faced some issues but managed to finish the Grand Prix in a good 7th position: « I also faced some engine problems in the middle of the race because there were some jerks, and it wasn’t running properly. Well done to the team for solving the problem. »
Sergio Perez (n°11) – 10th
The observation is similar for the Mexican, who even had to switch to a three-stop strategy: « I was hoping for more at the start, but I couldn’t make my tires last as usual, and afterward, I struggled with balance for much of the day. It was a very strange race; the track evolved a lot compared to Friday, and it was the front tires that suffered from degradation. With much lower temperatures, the car became difficult to drive. » Despite everything, the Mexican is satisfied with this good result, even if improvement is needed.
