Sahara Force India to keep options open

Sahara Force India‘s Bob Fernley, deputy team principal, indicated that his team will start considering options for the position of second driver, which is presently vacant due to Hulkenberg’s departure to Suaber, over the weekend, but declined to give a specific deadline.

Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi are both in contention to be Paul di Resta‘s team-mate and both will be in the cockpit over the weekend in Barcelona. But, Fernley said that it is unlikely a decision would be made this weekend, further adding that the data gathered over the next few days would be sent to the board to come to conclusion.

On being further pressed if there could be a decision next week, he added: “We want to make sure that it’s an even playing field for everybody, and that, more importantly, they [Sutil and Bianchi] have got the opportunity to get used to the car. Obviously one of them will come through and we don’t want to disadvantage them in any way.”

Further, he does not think Sutil’s year away from the sport will put the ex-Force India driver at a disadvantage. “We’ve got huge amounts of data on Adrian and he was in the simulator last week. Yes, he will be a little rusty but it doesn’t really matter, because what matters is to get some miles under his belt.”

Meanwhile di Resta, the only confirmed driver, has been in the car for the last two days and said he was not worried about the delay on who will partner him the upcoming season.

“It’s not my decision and it’s not something I’m worried about. I know them both very well and they are both good people. Adrian was part of the team for a very long time and Jules was part of the team last year. The board will make their decision based on who they want in the car. It’s not affecting me in any way, shape or form. I’m working with my team of guys and the same people that I’ve worked with over the years and we are developing this car to get the most out of it.”