Nico Hulkenberg Credits 'Sensational Start' at British GP for Seventh-Place Finish

Sahara Force India on Sunday enjoyed their second successive double points finish with Nico Hulkenberg finishing seventh and Sergio Perez ninth at their home race, British Grand Prix, here. (Racecentre)

At seventh, Hulkenberg was the last driver among 13 finishers who was not lapped in the race, won by home favourite and defending champion Lewis Hamilton.

It was third double-points finish for Force India this season, the start to which was quite troublesome for the Vijay Mallya-co-owned team.

With eight points from the race -- Hulkenberg six and Perez two -- Force India have now 39 points from nine races and remain in fifth position in the constructors championship.

Coming into this race, they were leading Lotus by just two points but now they have extended their lead to 10 as both Lotus drivers -- Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado --failed to finish.

The first lap melee, when four racers were ousted following a collision caused by Grosjean, pushed Hulkenberg to fifth and Perez inside top-10.

The Mexican gradually moved his way up to eighth.

Kimi Raiokkonen was flying in his Ferrai and in no time he overtook Hulkenberg, pushing the German to sixth. Raikkonen's teammate Sebastian Vettel did the same to Perez as the Mexican slipped to ninth. Hulkenberg said it is great to come away from home race with a good bunch of points.

"My start was sensational - maybe the best I ever had in Formula One - and I rocketed up to fifth place ahead of the two Ferraris. I was able to keep them behind me for the first stint, but they had too much pace and were able to use the strategy to jump us by pitting early," Hulkenberg said.

"When the rain arrived at the end of the race the track was very slippery. I was a bit unfortunate with the timing because I had just passed the pit lane entry when the rain became really heavy and I had to do a full lap before I could change to intermediates," he added.

Sergio Perez said finishing with both cars in the points at Silverstone is a very positive step for the team.

"We probably could have been even higher up, but the strategy didn't really work out in my favour. After my first stop, I lost a position to Sainz and I spent a few laps stuck behind him when my tyres were at their best," the Mexican said.

"I was in the dirty air and struggling with the front tyres, which had a lot of graining. When the second rain shower came we had a lot of discussions over the radio about what call to make and unfortunately we waited too long, which cost us a place," he said.