F1: Perez gives Force India second podium finish in Bahrain

Sakhir (Bahrain): Sahara Force India recorded their best result of the season as Sergio Perez drove a brilliant race to hand the team just their second podium finish, while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg ended an impressive fifth at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Starting fifth on the grid, Perez withstood tremendous pressure from Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo towards the end of the race to claim the third spot, a huge 24.067 seconds off the winner’s time, to give Sahara Force India just their second podium finish. Italian Giancarlo Fisichella secured Sahara Force India’s maiden podium in 2009 Belgium Grand Prix by finishing second. Perez’s team-mate Hulkenberg too impressed under the wheels as he drove home his car in the fifth position after starting 11 on the grid. Perez pocketed 15 points from today’s outing while Hulkenberg got 10 points for his fifth place finish as Sahara Force India recorded their second double points finish of the season. [caption id=“attachment_1468531” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, center, winner, Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany, left, second place, and Force India driver Sergio Perez of Mexico, right, third place stand on the podium after the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix. AP[/caption] The 25 points earned today also propelled the Silverstone-based outfit to the second position in the constructors standing with 44 points behind Mercedes (111 points). Hulkenberg, who today registered his third consecutive top 10 finish, is third on the drivers’ standings with 28 points behind Mercedes duo of Rosberg (61) and Hamilton (50). Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton beat teammate Nico Rosberg after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel to win the Bahrain Grand Prix that took him level with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio with a 24th career victory. Hamilton, who also won last weekend’s Malaysia Grand Prix, finished 1.085 seconds ahead of Rosberg. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel finished sixth, ahead of Williams drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, with the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen completing the top 10 positions. Today’s race also witnessed the safety car in action on lap 42 after a collision between Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado’s and Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez’s, who was sent into a somersault. The safety car was on the track for four laps but it made the race more competitive and interesting as there was neck-and-neck fight between the drivers for positions. PTI