» Mallya aiming for 5th in Constructors’ Standings

Delighted to have seen his cars in the points at every race this season, Force India Team Principal believes his team can aim for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship standings. The team currently lies in sixth place after the opening three rounds.

What’s been particularly impressive is how the team has managed to transform itself from a tail-end Charlie to a serious and credible midfield runner in just over a year.

"At the start of the season I said we wanted to be regular points finishers and here we are, three races in, with three points’ finishes," the Indian tycoon grinned.

"It’s very pleasing when you see just how far we’ve come in one year: after three races in 2009 we had nul points and were tenth. The difference, I believe, has been keeping the focus on what we want to do.

"We’ve kept our heads down, got on with the job and to a certain extent kept out of what the other teams are doing – we’ve focussed on our own game. It’s a real credit to Mark Smith and his team that we’ve got the points we have. The team at Brackley and Silverstone are tight-knit, efficient and the results are now coming through.

"The grid is very tight, as we saw in Malaysia and Australia, and there’s no clear delineation between the front and the midfield.

“The most important at this stage is that we are still up there fighting. Renault look very strong right now but there’s still a lot more races to go this year and we have a clear direction about where we are going that will keep us with them, or hopefully leapfrog them. The drivers are confident and the team is working well so I think fifth is still realistic."

But can you throw enough of a budget at this target when the big manufacturers and constructors have greater resources at their disposal?

[Image via GP Update]