Force India: 2010 driver, team and car guide, analysis and statistics
The Silverstone-based team had many incarnations Jordan Grand Prix, Midland, Spyker before billionaire businessman Dr Vijay Mallya swooped in October 2007. His arrival, though, came too late to produce immediate results and an updated version of the previous year's Spyker failed to score a single point in 2008. Not only that, but clearly all was not well behind the scenes with team principal Colin Kolles and chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne departing under a cloud.
By contrast, 2009 was something of a breakthrough year. Switching from Ferrari to a Mercedes power train, Force India secured their first ever pole in Belgium courtesy of Giancarlo Fisichella, who finished second in the race to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. And Adrian Sutil followed that up with a fourth place at the following grand prix in Monza.
Force India F1: 2009 team and car guide, analysis and statisticsRed Bull F1: 2009 team and car guide, analysis and statisticsFerrari must toughen up at the top to end deep-rooted Formula One crisisThis years Formula One gridTelegraph verdict:
Force India showed last year that they can compete on their day. Their challenge this year will be to build on that solid base and pre-season testing would indicate that is not beyond them. Points finishes should be fairly regular.
Driver profiles:
Adrian SutilBorn: 11/01/1983 Starnberg, Germany
Should someone with over 50 grands prix under his belt be crashing quite so much? The jury is still out on the piano-playing playboy. He showed glimpses of pace last year, particularly in the wet, and fell a fluffed pit-stop short of a podium at Monza. Needs to pull up his socks.
Vitantonio LiuzziBorn: 6/08/1981 Locorotondo, Italy
After unhappy stints with Red Bull and Toro Rosso, Liuzzi has returned a more low-key figure with Force India, seemingly determined to shrug off the 'too-cool-for-school' tage he earned last time. He says he's learned the error of his ways. He needs to be beating Sutil at least for people to sit up and take note.
Website: www.forceindiaf1.com Headquarters: Silverstone, NorthamptonshireTeam principal/owner: Vijay MallyaTechnical director: James KeyTeam manager: Andy StevensonDrivers: Adrian Sutil (Germany), Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy)2010 car: VJM03Engine: MercedesActive in F1: 2008 Australian Grand PrixRaces: 35Wins: 0Poles: 1Fastest laps: 1Constructors' titles: 0Drivers' titles: 0
Date published : 09 Mar 2010 - 19:37:36
