Perez relieved to score points in a 'demanding' race

With Perez scoring points, Force India maintained its fifth position in the constructors' championship despite Nico Hulkenberg's retirement from the race after a clash with Felipe Massa.

"It’s a good feeling to end such a demanding race with seventh place and six points. The start was very important because I knew I had to get ahead of Fernando [Alonso] and I also jumped ahead of Romain [Grosjean]," Perez said after the race.

Perez came close to hitting the back of Hulkenberg's car at the start, but a timely save by the Mexican meant both carried on.

From then on, he had a lonely race until after his final stop, when he made a fantastic move on Romain Grosjean to take ninth.

With Lewis Hamilton retiring, Perez slotted into seventh when Toro Rosso duo Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, with the help of fresh tyres, started to attack him.

"The second safety car didn’t help us because it gave the Toro Rossos a big advantage with their fresh tyres," added Perez.

"So the last 15 laps of the race were very demanding but fortunately, we managed to hold on for seventh.”

Hulkenberg's penalty surprising

While Perez had smiles, his teammate Hulkenberg left bewildered after he was handed a penalty for Japanese Grand Prix for the collision with Felipe Massa.

Team Principal Vijay Mallya was equally "surprised" by the stewards' "quick" decision. "We are surprised a penalty was given to Nico, especially considering that he was the one who ended up out of the race and with severe damage to the car," he said.

"We’re even more surprised the drivers weren't called to the stewards' room to give their view on the events."

Mallya rued having not been able to score double points but lauded Perez's calm approach in the race, which aided the team to strengthen their hold on fifth position against Lotus.