Force India cars finish 10th, 12th in Russian GP

Sochi, Oct 12 (IANS) Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg failed to leave a mark in the Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix, securing 10th and 12th spot, respectively, at the Sochi Autodrom here Sunday.

Perez at least managed to score a single point for his team with Hulkenberg having a day to forget.

Both the Force India cars, though, managed to finish higher than where they were placed on the grid. Perez was 12th on the grid while Hulkenberg was 17th.

Lewis Hamilton dominated the race to take his ninth win of the year, his fourth in a row and extend his championship lead to 17 points ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Rosberg took second place to seal the constructors’ title for Mercedes.

The 2014 Formula 1 calendar has three more races with a maximum of 100 points available to be won.

Hamilton sealed victory with a time of one hour 31. 50.774 minutes. Perez was 80.0 seconds behind Hamilton while finished 81.3 seconds behind the British driver.

The race was overshadowed by the sport’s concern for Marussia F1 team driver Jules Bianchi, who is in critical condition after a crash during the Japanese Grand Prix last weekend.

There was a tribute to the 25-year-old Frenchman on the grid from both his team and the other drivers.

Marussia decided to run only one car in the race, leaving Bianchi’s fully prepared but on stands in the garage.