New Delhi, August 30: A huge monkey off Force India’s back, team chairman Vijay Mallya today said the Formula One outfit has actually delivered on its promise of a podium finish one year before the 2010 deadline it had set.
“If you remember, we had promised to be among points in 2009 and be on the podium in 2010. So we have actually delivered on our podium promise in advance,” Mallya told from Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium after Giancarlo Fisichella drove a fairytale race to finish second in the Belgian Grand Prix to score the team’s first points.
After Fisichella grabbed the pole position yesterday, Mallya had called it the most memorable day of his Formula One career.
Asked if he would like to change it now and call today the most memorable day, Mallya said, “I don’t think I can swap the days.
“To get the pole position was a huge achievement in itself, which will go down in the history (of Indian motorsports). Similarly, today’s second place finish is also a momentous occasion which will go down in history.”
Mallya took the occasion to scotch rumours about the team’s financial health and said Force India was not short on resource.
“Our performance today proved that money alone cannot buy you success. We had a rather small budget but with the right kind of effort and direction, we have become a competitive side,” Mallya said.
–Agencies