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Force India scales F1 heights

MANAMA, Bahrain - Force India reached the giddy heights of second in the 2014 Formula 1 Constructors' championship on Sunday. 

Sergio Perez secured only the second podium finish in the team's history. The McLaren discard's third in the floodlit 2014 Bahrain GP brought the added satisfaction of knocking his former employer into third overall.

The other Force India car, driven by Nico Hulkenburg, was fith.

'SPECIAL PODIUM'

The only other time the Force India team finished in the top three was when Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was second in Belgium in 2009 after starting from an unexpected pole.

Co-owner Vijay Mallya said: "Today is one of the greatest days in the history of our team. "It's been a long time coming but it's very satisfying to see Force India back on the podium after so many years."

With Hulkenberg scoring points for the third race in a row Force India now has 44 points to McLaren's 43.

Perez is no stranger to the podium although he wasn't there at all in 2013 with McLaren. "It means lot. It's a very special podium," he said. "My time at McLaren - I never had a chance to fight for a podium in my first season."

Perez had his team mate to thank for it as well, with Hulkenberg holding Australian Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull at bay long enough to allow the Mexican to get too far out of reach after the pace car period.

Force India deputy principal Bob Fernley said: "We fought hard... it's been so close so many times. Finally coming through is just wonderful."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
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