With no local drivers to feature in the Formula One Indian Grand Prix at the weekend, the focus for the home fans will be on Sahara Force India and its drivers Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta to pick up some points and maybe even pull off a shock podium finish.
Sutil, who rejoined Force India for this season, has been pretty busy over the past few days promoting the sport in the country, and the German admitted he was pretty disappointed to see the Indian GP would not be returning to the Formula One circuit next season.
"India is such a huge country with so much potential," Sutil told Formula One's official website. "F1 for sure has made a big step and there are many fans in India who both support Force India -- as it is 'their' team -- and who are interested in motorsport in general, and especially in F1.
"So it's a bit sad that there won't be a Grand Prix in 2014 in India, but hopefully it will come back in 2015 to build on the strong fan base that already exists and that I have witnessed over the last couple of days. Paul and I have been guest sports editors and fans could put questions forward and I was really impressed with how knowledgeable the fans are.
"On Tuesday we both attended an event and did race simulator games against young fans and oh boy, they knew every trick there is!"
Force India started pretty strongly this season, picking up points, and noteworthy ones at that, consistently. However, the second half, usually the team's strongest period, has not quite gone according to plan, with changes in tyres the main reason for the struggles, with Force India currently sixth in the constructors' championship with 62 points.
"Since the tyres have been changed after Silverstone we've definitely struggled," Sutil admitted. "Sahara Force India is still a small team with limited capacities so any changes that are made hurt teams like us more than the big teams.
"With all their resources they react to any changes much faster. But we will push very hard to have good results in the last races and to fight for P6 (in the constructors' championship).
"At least that's our new goal after realizing that P5 is too far away. Things looked different after the first eight races, but now we have to defend P6 and we will fight as hard as possible to stay there -- to finish in P6."
Sutil's contract with Force India ends after this season, and the German hinted he has already made a decision on which team he will be driving for next year.
"I will come up with the details when the time is right," Sutil said while also alluding that he could be set for a team change next season. "Of course I know the direction, but as I just said, the time is not right.
"Maybe it's already solved. Hopefully I can say more in the coming weeks."
