Sutil targets top ten regularly

Adrian Sutil is convinced that Force India, which has yet to score a point in 27 grands prix, can now be a regular top 10 contender after the team showed significantly improved form in recent races

Sutil was on course for either seventh or eighth place in the German Grand Prix two weeks ago when he clashed with Kimi Raikkonen and had to make an extra pitstop for a new nosecone, and is confident that he can show similar speed this in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"We can be really optimistic of reaching the top 10 consistently, " Sutil told AUTOSPORT. "That's our goal for this weekend, to be in the top 10 in the race, and then points are possible.

"I had a really good feeling all weekend in Germany, even though we lost the result. A good qualifying performance, a good first stint - it was really promising."

Sutil added that it is vital that the team performs during Saturday's qualifying session, after both Force India drivers failed to make it into Q2 at the British Grand Prix and team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella's race was compromised by starting 18th at the Nurburgring.

"Q2 is a must," said Sutil. "I had a good qualifying in Germany, but Fisi had a problem with traffic. It would be nice to see both cars performing to the maximum in qualifying.

"Since Silverstone, we have been strong and it's time to prove with both cars that our update is strong and that we can be in the top 10."

Sutil has also said that he sees the costly clash with Raikkonen that happened as he was exiting the pitlane was a 50/50 accident.

"It was clear that it was a racing incident," Sutil told AUTOSPORT. "We were both trying to pass the other with the knife between our teeth!

"What happened in the end was unlucky. It was such a little hit on the front wing and it could have been different."