Belgian GP: Force India lose fifth place to McLaren

Force India’s Paul di Resta's race ended prematurely due to a collision while Adrian Sutil finished ninth in the Belgian Grand Prix as Sahara Force India lost its fifth place to McLaren in Spa on Sunday.

-PHOTOS: Vettel stretches lead with Belgian victory

-Belgian Grand Prix: Off the track!

The team was struggling ever since the introduction of new tyres by Pirelli and it was a good chance to gain some lost ground on the back of Di Resta's fifth place on the grid.

However, misfortune struck the side when the Scot was hit by Pastor Maldonado, who was trying to overtake Esteban Gutierrez, in lap 28.

Di Resta was firmly in points contention even as he had dropped some places but the crash forced his second retirement of the season. Before this, it was at the Malaysian GP where the Scot had retired.

Sutil, who could also have been a victim of that crash, drove superbly from 12th position to ninth as it snapped side's point-less streak. The side had returned without points in the last two races.

Image: Adrian Sutil of Germany and Force India
Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images