Force India Upbeat After Sergio Perez Wins 'Amazing' Wild Race at Russian Grand Prix

Nothing succeeds like success. After his podium finish in a wild Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on Sunday, Force India's Formula One driver Sergio Perez is aiming big in Austin, Texas, in two weeks' time. Perez has had nine top-10 finishes in this Formula One season.

Mexican Sergio Perez finished third for Force India, in a race with two safety car interludes following crashes, after Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen rammed the rear of fellow Finn Valtteri Bottas's Williams while battling for the final podium place. Lewis Hamilton took his ninth win of the season and 42nd of his career.

"I am happy I was able to share this second podium with my team. It's a very special result and one that fills me with expectation ahead of the races in Austin and especially Mexico City," said Perez.

The safety car was deployed after Perez's Force India team-mate Nico Hulkenberg spun on the opening lap and was hit by Marcus Ericsson of Sauber with Max Verstappen's Toro Rosso also caught up in the action.

Nico Rosberg had led from pole, holding off Hamilton through the opening corners, but was forced to retire in the pits on the seventh of 53 laps. (Nico Rosberg Curses Bad Luck as Title Hopes Slip Away)

Perez had thought his podium hopes had gone when Bottas and Raikkonen, on fresher tyres, passed him in the closing laps but the collision put him right back for his first top-three finish of the season.

"One lap before the end it seemed like everything went away from us. I was very unhappy with myself but in the end I thought ''I gave it all"," said the Mexican.

"I did plenty of laps with my tyres and had massive degradation. On the last lap when it came it was just amazing."

With four races remaining, and a maximum 100 points to be won, Hamilton has 302 points to Vettel's 236 and Rosberg's 229. Perez, who finished on the podium in the Bahrain Grand Prix last year, wants to do better.

"It's always a pity to go out at the start and it's really frustrating because our pace seemed really good this weekend. I just want to move on and start thinking about the next race. At the same time I have to say well done to Checo (Sergio Perez) because the podium is a great result for the Force India team," said Hulkenberg.

Force India's deputy team principle Robert Fernley is equally upbeat.

"Checo did a great job defending against Ricciardo first and Bottas later until the very final stages and then we had some good fortune on the final lap. The only blot on our copybook today was Nico's accident at the start. It was unfortunate but he will bounce back in Austin," said Fernley.

"Our recent run of form is testament to the great job we have done over the last few months and it's incredibly satisfying to deliver on the potential we have shown with a podium.

"We're on target to consolidate our fifth position in the championship and that has to be our objective for the end of the season before we push hard to move forward next year," the Force India team official said.

(With agency inputs)