Force India target Q2 in Sepang

Having seen the team get within 0.2s of cracking into the second part of qualifying in Melbourne, chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne believes Force India can genuinely expect to start in the midfield at Sepang.

"I think we have to go to Malaysia with the same objectives we set out in Australia," he said. "We were very unlucky over in Melbourne to miss out on Q2 by just a fraction of a second, and then both cars going out so early

'We did however show a clear step forward in competitiveness. This time last year we knew we were a second off the back of everyone. In Australia we showed we are a lot closer, and with new parts for Malaysia now we should be in a position to make another step forward.'

Giancarlo Fisichella, who didn't get to complete a racing lap in Australia, is keen to see just how competitively he can run over a race distance this weekend.

'I am looking forward to Malaysia now so we can show what we can really do over a race," he said. "As we went out very early in Australia, we could not demonstrate how much closer we now are relative to the other teams.

"The VJM01 feels more consistent and stable, and now we have some new aero parts coming for this race I think we can make another step forward.

'I have good memories of the race here too. I won in 2006 with Renault and, although we will not be in that position now, I do think we should be able to put in a good performance.

"My aim is the same as before: I want to take the team into Q2 for the first time, and then finish the race. As Australia showed, anything can happen and if we are there, then we have a good chance of picking up a good result.'

Teammate Adrian Sutil added that he expected last year's experience of the Sepang circuit to pay dividends in his chances to make it to Q2.

"Last year was my first time in Sepang and it was not such a great event for us," he said. "Unfortunately we were not as quick as the others on the long straights, and then I went out very early on in the race in an accident. This year I think we will be better.

"I am really disappointed that I did not get into second qualifying and then could not finish the race in Australia, as I think we could have finished very high up with the way the race went. But you just have to forget that now and look forward to the next event. Q2 is for sure my aim, and I really think we could make it this time."