Force India set to start early on 2017 cars
The proposed Formula 1 rule changes coming in effect in 2017 means the cars will look significantly different for which Force India is set to start work on 2017 cars early according to team principal, Vijay Mallya.
With major evolutions in terms of aerodynamics and wide tyres proposed for 2017, the cars are expected to go faster by few seconds.
“2017 will be a whole different ballgame. My guess is that the cars will have to be ‘re-invented’ again,” Mallya said in an interview on Formula1.com.
“Force India will start early to stay ahead of the game,” he revealed.
Team punching above its weight
In the seven seasons (eighth running) for the Silverstone-based team, they have outperformed with limited resources and strengthened their position as a top midfield team.
“We like to run a good, tight ship, with a good atmosphere, good drivers and good commitment from our people. It’s the package,” Mallya said.
“If people say that the Force India package is punching above its weight, I take that as a compliment.”
Elaborating more on their performance considering their expenditure in terms of what other teams spend, Mallya agrees to the above statement.
“We have under 400 people - and I am sure that I don’t have to double the workforce if I want to go further up the grid. That is what I honestly believe,” stated the Indian team owner.
“Yes, I want to get better every year, but I also believe that doubling my work force is not the answer.
“If somebody tells me that to get to P4 I would have to go beyond 600 people, I very much disagree. We could also do it with our 380 people.”
On target
The team brought their ‘B-spec’ car in Silverstone which has put them in a strong place for a fifth place finish in the constructors’ championship as they battle against Lotus, Sauber and Toro Rosso.
“I have set my targets for the team, and we are doing very well in achieving them,” Mallya said.
“I will not get carried away saying that we will achieve P4 this season, but there is no reason why we should not target that in 2016.”
The team sits sixth, one point behind Lotus in the championship and expects to bring another upgrade in Singapore as the team tries to perform at the same level on all the tracks rather than some particular one’s.
“I always told my engineers that we cannot afford a car that is perfect on particular tracks and faints on others.
“We need a car that is competitive on every track - and I think that we have achieved that pretty successfully,” he said.
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