Force India: "The first lap has hit us hard"

Force India’s deputy-team principal Bob Fernley believes first-lap issues have made the start of the season look worse than it actually is. 

Sergio Perez dropped six places on the first lap in China to 14th, after a brush with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren, which also held up Perez’s teammate Esteban Ocon.

Perez was also delayed in Bahrain by a first-lap collision with Brendon Hartley’s Toro Rosso.

So far this season, Force India have scored just one point this season, with Esteban Ocon’s 10th place in Bahrain. This point leaves the Silverstone based team in 9th in the constructor’s championship.

"We've had two races where the first lap has hit us hard,” said Fernley.

"The difficulty is that once you go back like that, with the midfield competition so tight, it's very difficult to recover. I think that's the key to it.

"Alonso and the Renaults have done a good job clearing that trouble in the first laps, and are getting the benefit of it.

"It's just how it falls. If you get out of position from your starting place it's very difficult to recover if everybody finishes."