Force India team boss Otmar Szafnauer believes challenging Formula 1’s top three teams can be a realistic goal in 2019.
The Silverstone-based outfit earned a new lease of life this year after Lawrence Stroll, billionaire father of Williams driver Lance, bought the team after it entered administration in July.
Unfortunately, the mid-season change meant a new entry had to be made from the Belgian Grand Prix, stripping Force India of their points and ending their chances of finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship for a third straight year.
However, in the midst of a strong end to the year, having already made their way back to seventh in the standings, the outlook for the future is very rosy.
“We want to fight for third place. I think we and Renault have a chance of getting closer to Ferrari and Mercedes in 2019,” Szafnauer told Brazil’s El Globo ahead of Sunday’s race in Sao Paulo.
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Certainly, the situation is a lot better than it was in the summer when only administrative action by Sergio Perez prevented Force India from being wound up.
“Without Lawrence Stroll coming in, we would not have got to the race in August,” the team boss revealed.
“I’ve been in F1 for 20 years and we started talking six months ago. But I have realised we are both (North) Americans and have similar ways of looking at and reacting to things.
“He (Stroll) wants to accelerate the growth of the team to the maximum to reach the top three who are dominating.”