Adrian Sutil says Force India is aiming to overhaul Renault for fifth place in the constructor's championship.
After a slow start to the year, Force India has come strong in the last three races, with its best results of the season coming courtesy of Sutil's sixth place in Germany and Paul di Resta's seventh in Hungary. Having beaten Mercedes on both occasions Sutil said that the target was to battle with Mercedes in races and attempt to close the 40 point gap to Renault in the standings.
"I think at the moment in the race we are already in front of Mercedes," Sutil said. "In qualifying we're a little bit behind them so let's see if we can carry it on like this, but the last two races actually one of us was always in front of both Mercedes so that is a good sign.
"I think even Renault we can also beat. They are not too far ahead and they are struggling at the moment, so let's see how their development curve is going to be. We were aiming P5 at the beginning of the season, it looked a little bit difficult after a few races, but now it can change quite quickly."
Asked where the VJM04's strengths currently lie, Sutil said it was an all-round quick car, but that a repeat of Giancarlo Fisichella's pole position in 2009 was not on the cards.
"I think we're strong everywhere to be honest. We're consistent. We have seen that at many different circuits at the moment; from Nurburgring to Hungary it was quite obvious, same position on the grid and very different characteristics of the circuit. Maybe this one suits me as a driver even better but maybe also the car still a little bit better. We will see tomorrow, but I don't think we're going to be like two years ago!"
Sutil also said there would be another upgrade on the car after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and that he expected it to allow Force India to be competitive until the end of the season.
"We have one more upgrade in Singapore and that will be it. So there's nothing special on the car now, some new parts, so it will be a similar car from the last race. But hopefully we will be in this area for the rest of the season, I don't expect us to be with the Ferraris or McLarens consistently, that is a little bit too far ahead, but we have to take our chances and finish hopefully sixth, seventh, eighth, in this area as much as possible. Maybe sometimes even better, it depends on the race and what's happening, but the chances are there."
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