For a middle-rung team on the grid, the second half of any Formula One season is a busy one. The reasoning is two-fold: one, they are busy trying to win as many points as possible to get a healthy pay from the FIA, the governing body of motor sport, ahead of the next season. Two, they are trying to evaluate if their current drivers are good enough, and whether they can hold on to them, or need to find new/better drivers as replacements.

In that sense, Force India is the perennial middle-rung team, perhaps in the same bracket as Renault, just behind Williams and just ahead of Sauber. A team with restricted resources, they have learnt how to punch above their weight, and have been classifying themselves ahead of their category with much ease and regularity.

Punching above weight

It can be seen in the manner they have got consistent results in this rule-cycle that set in 2014. Of course, the Mercedes power unit has helped them, but this is a team that does not have enough resources to compete aerodynamically with the top teams. That season, they had McLaren in their sights, losing out on fifth place by just 26 points to the eight-time constructors’ champions.

In 2015 then, as McLaren slipped with an underpowered Honda engine, Force India were assured of fifth place, a highest-ever finish in the F1 championship. Not resting on their laurels though, at this same juncture in the season, they were pushing Red Bull Racing. They pulled away in the latter races, but Force India underlined their intentions fully. And now have made good on their promise this season, putting Williams in their crosshairs: 108 points to 111 points, seven races to go including the Singapore GP this weekend, and fourth place up for grabs.

“We are limited in development as compared to the top teams, but we have managed to make some good decisions,” said Nico Hulkenberg, ahead of the Singapore GP. “We have employed some good people, and have managed to retain the core of our engineering team. We don’t have the budget, but we have some quality people who keep coming with creative ideas,” he added.

The same words were reiterated by his teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ press conference. Only there was an addition therein, as the Mexican pointed out the difference in performance with Williams at times, despite the fact that both teams use Mercedes engines. It was a reminder that Perez could yet move to the Grove-based team next season. “I was hoping to sort the situation and announce my next year’s plans here this weekend,” he said. “Unfortunately there have been some delays and I am hopeful of making that announcement at the next race.”

Perez in demand

It underlines the second point aforementioned. Force India are in a fight to hold on to one of their drivers again, only this time it is the Mexican who is in demand, instead of the German. Perez, apparently, is talking to at least two teams, Renault being the other known name, and holds the key to the driver market. His decision will decide what shape the grid takes for 2017. Clearly, it is a major rebound for him after the debacle at McLaren in 2013. Hulkenberg, meanwhile, has been confirmed by Force India for next year.

“When I was a bit younger, I used to be obsessed with getting to a top team, what would be available and what would not, and not enjoy so much the moment. Right now I'm not so bothered at all,” Perez had said earlier in the week. It is clear that the McLaren experience enriched him as a racing driver, and it has shown in his results ever since. In 2014, after Vijay Mallya had given his career a lifeline, Perez scored the team’s only podium of the season in Bahrain. In 2015, he repeated that feat in Russia, and also managed to outscore Hulkenberg, a first for the German since he left Williams in 2011.

This year, Perez has only stepped it up a notch, scoring two podiums in Monaco and Azerbaijan, setting the cat loose among the pigeons. Word is that he could yet stay at Force India, for rule changes in 2017 mean that he won’t know until later how Williams or Renault are progressing. It would mean another season of stable results, and that could eventually lead to a Ferrari seat in 2018, when (and if) Kimi Raikkonen moves on.

Hulkenberg tapering off

That last bit ought to hurt Hulkenberg. When Ferrari were last shopping in the drivers’ market for the 2014 season, he was on top of their list. Then, the Scuderia opted to go back to Raikkonen, and forged his current partnership with Sebastian Vettel. Hulkenberg’s form has since tapered off, and he is now on the verge of being out-driven by his teammate for a second season running.

"Disappointment" is the word he had used in 2015, when asked about this situation. It is possible his feelings have magnified since then, particularly in light of Perez marching ahead. “There are never any guarantees in F1, and it is important to focus on yourself and what’s best for you,” he said, managing to conceal it well enough, for there is still a job to do for his team.