Sutil: Spa my best F1 race

Spyker rookie Adrian Sutil has hailed the team's B-spec car a step forward after his most competitive showing of the season in last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old played a starring role at Spa, racing up to 12th position from 19th on the grid during his first stint, and finishing a creditable 14th after battling with Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard.

The German, who was voted 'Driver of the Day' by ITV-F1.com's readers, said in an official team interview it was a huge boost for the tail-end team to be fighting in the midfield on merit.

"For sure, I was fighting with many experienced drivers, and it was really nice to be there and have a chance," he said.

"All the season I've had boring races, I was always driving alone and finishing second last or last!"

Sutil added that he felt his Belgian GP performance was his best in an F1 car and that Spyker was competitive regardless of its two-stop strategy rather than because of it.

"Yes, it was a very good race. The best race so far for sure!" he said.

"It's nice to see that the B-spec car is working better, and we can have some success now. The whole race we were on it, we were fighting.

"I was surprised that so many cars did a one-stop. I think two stops was better for us, and for sure it gave us a chance at the beginning to make a lot of positions. I didn't expect to pass so many cars - I was in 12th position and doing really competitive lap times.

"But that's how it was. I think in general the race was a big step forward."

"I think people thought we were really light, but we were normal, we came into the pits later than some other cars. It was our performance that took us to the front," he added.

"In the last race we were hoping for rain conditions or a safety car, but this time we really had a chance without hoping for something to happen."

Sutil explained that the nature of the Spa lay-out had given Spyker a chance to emphasise the gains it had made with the B-spec car, but warned there was still work to be done on the aerodynamic package.

"In qualifying especially it was better, we were much quicker on the straights, that's where we gained the most time," he said.

"Also in the race we were sometimes doing the same speeds as the Ferraris and McLarens on the straights. But now we need much more downforce, and that's where we have to find the time."

Source: itv-f1