Ranking Every Force India Lineup




7. Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi (2010)

The trip down the history of Force India begins slowly. Sutil and Liuzzi were an easy choice as the most uninspired lineup the team ever put forth. To their credit, the only reason this lineup every raced was due to Fisichella's surprise move to Ferrari for 2009. That being said, for two rankings in a row, Liuzzi pulls up the rear. 

6. Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta (2011 & 2013)

One of the more iconic lineups in Force India's history, and also one of the few in the modern era to reunite on non-continuous years. Sutil had experience. Though he was often error prone. Di Resta came highly rated from DTM. However, the plethora of talented young drivers meant Di Resta never got his shot with a top team. If not for Rosberg, Hulkenburg, Perez, Bianchi, and Grosjean, who knows where Di Resta would have ended up. 

5. Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella/Vitantonio Liuzzi (2009)

The addition of Fisichella to this lineup makes it worlds better. In truth, Fisichella was one of the most sought after drivers on the grid for 2009. This reality came to fruition for him when he eventually replaced the insured Massa at Ferrari. Though he was entering the twilight of his career, his pace shined through. He holds the record as the only driver to bank both pole and P2 in the same race for Force India (excluding Racing Point). 

4. Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella (2008)

Sutil and Fisichella round out the top four with a strong lineup. It's rare a team this far down the order would have drivers of this quality. Furthermore, their driver loyalty shows. Force India never had a driver that didn't race for them for at least 2 seasons. Contrast that with Red Bull. 

3. Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenburg (2012)

2012 was when Force India began their precipitous climb up the F1 pyramid. Di Resta had raced with the team previously, but Hulkenburg's very successful stint with Williams proved him to be the real star in their 2012 squad. Hulkenburg famously lead a race for the team at the season finale in Brazil. The same track he took pole in while with Williams. Something about that track it seems. 

2. Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon (2017-2018)

By far the most fire-y of their lineups. Force India were a team to be reckoned with in 2017-18. The team scored two consecutive 4th place finishes in the championship. Contrast that with just a decade prior where they were middling around as back-markers. Sergio Perez was a steal following his stint with McLaren. His midfield acumen among the best in the business. As for Ocon, he was the heir to the Mercedes seat. Before George Russell, he was their number one prospect. He took this challenge to heart, and gave Perez a run for his money in both seasons. Barring the purchasing of the team by Lawrence Stroll, it's likely Ocon could have stayed with the team to this day. 

1. Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenburg (2014-16)

Force India made it easy by combining their two best drivers of all time from 2014-2016. One could argue Fisichella deserves credit here, but he was kept back by driving for the team at such an early stage. Meanwhile Perez and Hulkenburg oversaw the start of a renaissance. Back when the top three was undisputed, Force India were the only team scraping podiums off them. Perez and Hulkenburg were a major piece of that puzzle. In terms of midfield lineups, this was the crown jewel of the 2010s. 



Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll: Bonus (2019-2020)


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