Force India opens F1 season with double points finish

Sahara Force India made a dream start to Formula One season with Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez ensuring double points finish for the Siverstone-based outfit by securing creditable sixth and 10th positions, respectively at the eventful Australian Grand Prix here today.
Hulkenberg marked his return to Sahara Force India in style, garnering eight points while Perez made his debut for the side with one point at Albert Park.
Starting seventh and 16th on the grid, Hulkenberg and Perez initially finished the race on seventh and 11th positions, respectively, but they moved up a rung after Red Bull's Dainel Ricciardo lost his second-place finish after stewards decided his car had run with too high a fuel flow rate during the race.

The disqualification means 13 drivers out of 22 completed the race.
Ricciardo crossed the line behind winner Nico Rosberg to claim his maiden F1 podium. His exclusion elevates McLaren's Kevin Magnussen to second spot and teammate Jenson Button to third.
Ricciardo's disqualification made a significant impact on the final standings and helped Sahara Force India garner nine points from the season-opening race.

Despite facing some tough challenges in the opening laps, Hulkenberg finished the race 50.7 seconds behind fellow German Rosberg of Mercedes, who led from start to finish to win the race.
Hulkenberg's teammate Perez, too, impressed in his debut race for Sahara Force India and finished in the points bracket, just 22.4 second behind ninth place Daniil Kvyat of Torro Rosso.

Rosberg, meanwhile, took the chequered flag 26.7 and 30 seconds ahead of McLaren duo of Magnussen and Button.
Magnussen, 21, thus became the first Danish driver ever to reach the podium.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari moved to the fourth position ahead of Williams' Valtteri Bottas, Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen in the other Ferrari.
But it turned out to be a forgettable outing for defending world champion Sebastian Vettel and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, both of whom retired early due to power issues, as F1 witnessed a series of technical changes this year.