INDIA in F1

Category: Formula 1

  • Sahara Force India gears up for the new season with VJM10

    Sahara Force India gears up for the new season with VJM10

    Sergio Perez (right) and Esteban Ocon pose before the season. A Sahara Force India image

    Sahara Force India driver Sergio Perez revs up for the new season and one of his favourite races in the calendar

    Sergio `Checo’ Perez: “The first race of the year is always good fun. We’ve had a long winter to recharge the batteries, but now I just want to go racing again. Australia is the best place to start the season: it’s a great country and I really enjoy going there. There is so much to do in Melbourne and it’s a fun weekend, even if it’s busier than some of the other races.

    “It’s important not to get distracted: we want to start well and get back into the race weekend rhythm, and get on with our work. The track itself is quite enjoyable and it’s a challenge to drive because it’s almost a street circuit. It starts the weekend very green and as you go on, you get more grip and more confidence in your new car.

    “I am confident we can do well and score points from the first race: Australia is a place where anything can happen and we have seen some very unpredictable races there in the past. You never know what opportunities turn up in a race so you have to be ready at all times to take them.”

    Esteban Ocon prepares for his Sahara Force India debut and his first full season in Formula One.
    Esteban: “I am feeling great after a long winter and I’m very excited to go to Melbourne. It will be the first time racing at Albert Park for me, so I do not really know the track, but last year I went there and I liked what I could see. It’s a proper old-school track and those are the sorts of circuit I really enjoy. Of course it’s not easy when you don’t know the track in advance, so it’s especially important to learn quickly in the Friday sessions and listen to the feedback from the engineers – whether it’s where I can be faster or where we can make the car quicker. I think I have all the tools and all the people around me to do that.

    “Joining this team has gone very smoothly from my perspective. The team welcomed me and made me feel at ease straight away. I feel very comfortable about the way we work and I feel this will help me give my best in Australia.

    “I think we did a good job as a team during winter testing and I also feel confident because of all the simulator work we did over the winter. We continue to push on the simulator and I was at the factory a few days ago doing the final preparation for Melbourne. I was very open to the team – I told them I’d be available at HQ as much as they needed me over the winter and I feel satisfied with the work we’ve done together so far. I think we’re on track to extract everything we can from the car, which is our objective. We’ll go out and do the best we can and see where we are.”

    Team Principal, Vijay Mallya, reflects on the start of a new season in Australia.

    “I always say that Melbourne is a great place to start the season and this year there is so much to be excited about with the new generation of cars making their race debut. It’s interesting for the teams, the media and most importantly, the fans. Let’s hope we put on a great show to kick off the season in style.

    “We will race in our new colours for the first time in Melbourne. BWT have given us a very exciting livery and they have generated a huge buzz among the media and fans. The VJM10 looks stunning and it’s great to see such a positive reaction on social media.

    “As for our expectations this weekend, it’s still not easy to make predictions – even after eight days of testing in Barcelona. Qualifying on Saturday will give us our first indication of the true pecking order. Testing taught us lots of things and we’ve identified where we can improve, which is exactly why we go testing. We’ve addressed most of those things in time for Melbourne and we’re in good shape.

    “The VJM10 is largely reliable and clocked up 785 laps in testing, and we took encouragement from our long run pace. We’ve got to approach the early races believing we can pick up where we left off last year. We arrive in Melbourne feeling optimistic and confident that scoring points is a realistic objective.”

    The Team’s Technical Director, Andrew Green, shares his views on the start of the new season.
     Andrew Green: “As we begin this season, we are still on a very steep learning curve with the VJM10. In terms of data, we are effectively starting from scratch as nearly everything we had from previous years has been set aside. The reality is we’ve only had a handful of days of testing, on just one track and with consistent temperatures, so there will be a huge amount to discover about the car and the tyres once we get running for real in Australia.

    “Melbourne is a temporary street circuit and, as such, there are compromises to be made in the set-up of the car. It’s a circuit that is traditionally hard on brakes, but the biggest challenge will be optimising the tyres. We have never done a race on them; we have never done a race with the VJM10 and therefore there is still a lot to learn. This is not just specific to Australia – the first race could have been anywhere and we’d be facing the same situation, but we’re ready for the challenge.

    “Another variable, as always, will be the weather. The climate in Melbourne can be very changeable: it can be very hot or cool down very quickly, especially racing in the late afternoon as we do, so you need to set up the car to take this into account. It’s the start of a new era – new car, new regulation, new tyres. It will be interesting to see how the race pans out – we will be paying particular attention to what we should do to cover the various scenarios that may happen on Sunday.”

    eom/Sahara Force India press release

  • Pit Stop Warriors – Mercedes men train all winter for the Battle of the Box

    It’s no secret that driver fitness is crucial in Formula One. The men behind the wheel are among the most-highly conditioned athletes in the world, their bodies honed for stamina and endurance. But what about the fitness of the race team they depend on?

    With sub 2.5 second stops now the expectation rather than the exception, the slightest fumble during a tyre change can mean the difference between victory and defeat on track. Speed and, above all, reliability are absolutely crucial – which is why the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport pit crew have been training hard all winter to prepare for the new season.

    It’s not just the usual skills and drills of the job that they’ve been honing over the long winter months, either – although there has been plenty of that too, of course. Since the New Year, the guys have been working with a new personal trainer dedicated to their health, conditioning and fitness.

    Working on ergonomics and body movement, each crew member now has a programme developed and tailored specifically to them and the role that they play in the pit stop – be that working the jacks or handling the chunky new Pirelli tyres introduced for 2017. So, it’s not just the drivers who have been bulking up to face the new challenges of this year’s F1 beasts…

    Naturally, the biggest challenge of the winter period has focused on how best to handle the bigger, heavier wheels and tyres. The rears, for example, are a whopping 80mm wider and weigh 1.8kg more each, while the fronts are 60mm wider and around 0.8kg heavier apiece.

    While the weight increase isn’t such a big deal on its own, combining that with a significant increase in size is far from straightforward – particularly when it comes to manoeuvring the tyres for pit stops. The tyre stacks themselves are now taller too, thanks to the increased depth of the wheels. Over the course of a race weekend, all that extra bulk and weight starts to add up.

    Through practice, physical conditioning (and then even more practice!), the crew will have it all down to an art by the time they hit the pit box in Melbourne. That’s what makes them the very best in the business. But reaching that level doesn’t come without some serious hard graft.

    In an all-new regime for this year, the guys now train up to five times a week – even coming into the factory during their days off – with three separate pit-stop practice sessions pencilled in during that same seven day period too. With almost 300 practice stops completed back at base alone so far this year, it’s been a gruelling winter for the crew.

    This training goes way beyond the focus of a pit stop alone, though. They each have a personal fitness programme available via an app on their phones, where they can log in, track their progress and compare their results with their team-mates. There’s nothing like a little competition to make things interesting!

    These guys have to be warriors to reach the pinnacle of their game – and they know how crucial fitness is to performance. Ultimately, it’s no different to the drivers. Each one of them has to be in peak condition if they want to deliver 100% for their team-mates every race weekend. Practice makes perfect – and it’ll take nothing less than perfection to win races in 2017.

    Next up, we’re off to Melbourne. If you’re coming along, watch out for the guys running along St. Kilda beach or the banks of the Yarra River. The focus never drops. The hard work never stops…

    Watch the crew in action and hear more about their winter training regime here:
    https://youtu.be/eC2ia4xz1u8
    eom/Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport release

  • Dawn of a new era: Mercedes’ Toto Wolff on Melbourne

    Formula One enters a new age at the picturesque Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit
    “It’s the dawn of a new era – in more ways than one. This is the first time that Formula One has changed the rules to make the cars faster. We have new management looking at how we take the sport forward. And, in our team, we have seen some significant changes of personnel over the winter. It’s been a busy few months, no doubt. But an extremely exciting time, too.

    “The target with these new regulations was to make this generation of F1 cars the quickest in the history of the sport. And looking at the results from testing, we’re well on the way to achieving that. It’s something that’s never been done before and that’s a radical change. We’ve even made them look more spectacular.

    “Having spoken to the drivers, these machines are violent – just like Formula One cars should be. I have been out on track watching them and, next to the previous generation of cars, these are properly spectacular cars. From a fan perspective – and a part of me will always be a fan – it really is something special. Any true motorsport lover simply has to see them in the flesh.

    “Lewis and Valtteri are in a great place. They have a respectful and friendly relationship from what we’ve seen in our team briefings so far. It’s an exciting time for them because these new cars are a real physical challenge. Both felt from testing that the G-Forces are enormous and they are embracing the new challenge of F1 2017.

    “We have tackled with determination the challenge of the new regulations. We have been very successful over the last three years through stable rules – but no team has ever maintained its success over such a big regulation change before. In a way, it’s just what the doctor ordered. To have such a challenge is good for the team.

    “There is an art to managing expectations. You must not set them too low – but you must also keep them under control. With new regulations, everyone starts with zero points. It provides opportunities as well as risks for every team on the grid. You only need to look back to 2009 to see how unpredictable Formula One can be, with Brawn winning the Championship after being on the brink of extinction.

    “We enter 2017 with that mindset. We take every one of our rivals seriously and respect every team’s ability to find that magic bullet. They are all full of very clever people – the best in the world in their fields. We have done the best job we possibly could over the winter and, if we are not the fastest in Melbourne, then it’s about finding out why and what needs to be done to get us back to that top spot. It’s a challenge we will take on with great motivation and energy. Setbacks can provide a long-term opportunity because you constantly need to improve yourself.

    “What we’ve seen from Barcelona is that the margins at the front of the field have shrunk. We’ll see how that pans out in Melbourne, because we still don’t know about the fuel loads, weights or power settings of the other cars. As the old saying goes, it is when the flag drops that the bullshit really stops.”

    – Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
    eom/

  • Force India sports a rosy pink, thanks to new sponsor BWT

    Force India sports a rosy pink, thanks to new sponsor BWT

    Force India VJM10 sports a new pink thanks to the new sponsor BWT. A Sahara Force India image

    Silverstone, 14 March 2017: Sahara Force India takes on a brand new look this year following the signing of a partnership agreement with Europe’s No. 1 water technology specialists, BWT.

    The VJM10 will race in pink, magenta and silver to mark the beginning of a long-term relationship with the Austrian-headquartered water brand. The new colours will make their debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

    The partnership represents BWT’s first involvement in Formula One as the brand takes advantage of the sport’s global footprint to promote its unique water treatment products, such as the BWT Magnesium Mineralizer. BWT’s presence is also reinforced with the BWT pink helmets of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon to complement the unique BWT pink car.

    Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “The arrival of BWT in Formula One is huge news and represents one of the most significant partnerships in our ten year history. It’s a sign of how far we have come as a team with our strong results and completes a solid commercial performance over the winter. For 2017 our cars will sport a vibrant new colour scheme with a smart matte finish. Changing the colour of our cars is an indication of the strength of this new partnership and a real statement of intent from BWT as they begin their relationship with the sport of Formula One.”

    BWT CEO Andreas Weißenbacher, on BWT’s decision to sponsor a Formula 1 team, says:“The collaboration with Sahara Force India is an important part of our brand-globalisation strategy and will dynamically increase awareness of our brand around the world. We share with Formula 1 –  the premier league of motor sport –  the passion we show every day in trying to achieve the best possible standards for our elixir of life, H2O, enabling us to meet the demanding requirements for quality, health, safety and hygiene and drive the development of new technologies.”

    About BWT
    The Best Water Technology Group (BWT) is Europe‘s leading water technology company. BWT’s 3,300 employees aim to supply private, industrial, business, hotel and public sector customers with innovative, economical and ecological technologies that guarantee maximum safety, hygiene and health in the daily use of water – the precious elixir of life. BWT provides state-of-the-art water treatment technologies and services for drinking water, pharmaceutical water, process water, heating water, boiler water, cooling water, water for air-conditioning systems and water for swimming pools. Our Research & Development teams use the latest methods developed to work on new processes and materials to create products that are both ecological and economical. A key development issue is a reduction in the products’ consumption of operating resources and energy to minimise CO2 emissions. www.bwt-group.com

    About Sahara Force India Formula One Team
    Over the last ten years Sahara Force India has risen to become one of the sport’s most prominent success stories. Year-on-year the Silverstone-based team has continued its journey towards the front of the grid with a fourth place finish in the FIA Formula One World Championship the reward for a remarkable 2016 season. The team’s global appeal has increased thanks to its strong on-track performance, growing partner portfolio and the arrival of world-class drivers such as Sergio Perez. The signing of young superstar, Esteban Ocon, to race alongside Perez for 2017, creates one of Formula One’s most exciting line-ups and gives the team fresh energy to build on its achievements ahead of the new season. www.forceindiaf1.com

    eom/Sahara Force India press release

  • Ocon completes 142 laps for Force India

    Ocon completes 142 laps for Force India

    Esteban Ocon completes 142 laps for Force India on Tuesday at Barcelona. A Sahara Force India image

    Barcelona, 7 March 2017: Sahara Force India completed a very busy day as testing resumed at the Circuit de Catalunya. Esteban Ocon covered more than two race distances, clocking 142 laps before the chequered flag.

    Chassis: VJM10-02
    Laps: 142 laps
    Mileage: 661km
    Best lap: 1:21.347 (P6)
    Esteban Ocon: “I am very happy with our work today. To complete more than 140 laps without issues is a good effort and allowed us to cover a lot of ground. We did some long stints and also some performance runs, which were very interesting: we kept working on both the chassis and the tyres, but we managed to include aero and engine work too. I can see we are making progress compared to last week: every time we go out we get to try new solutions and I feel we are moving in the right direction.”
    Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer: “It’s been a productive day and we managed to complete our entire run plan. We covered 142 laps and Esteban didn’t put a foot wrong all day. We definitely learnt a lot and this is something that will help us for the rest of the week. Our programme was varied: we continued our correlation work for the mapping of the car and did further work on the 2017 tyres. Today was also a good occasion to work with Esteban on some of our race weekend procedures: Melbourne is only one day in the car away for him, effectively, so it was crucial to make the most of his time in the car. Every lap we do helps us progress on what is a very steep learning curve with the new cars. We feel the analysis of the data from last week has set us in the right direction and we are aiming to continue on this path for the remainder of the week.”
    eom/Sahara Force India press release
  • Sahara Force India completes 4-day testing

    Sahara Force India completes 4-day testing

    Sahara Force India ended its first week of testing as Sergio Perez completed 82 laps on a wet-to-dry Circuit de Catalunya. Overall Force India completed 278 laps during the first of the off-season testing in Barcelona here and Esteban Ocon was the fastest among the three drivers. The second test starts on March 7. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was the fastest among all drivesrs on Day 4.
    Chassis: VJM10-02
    Laps: 82 laps
    Mileage: 382km
    Best lap: 1:22.534 (P6)
    Sergio Perez: “It was a positive week and I think we made a good step forward with understanding the VJM10 and finding the limit of the tyres. I feel more confident in the car; I have learnt a huge amount and I think my preparation is going to plan. We can be pleased with this last day of testing: we covered a lot of ground and we found some more performance. Hopefully next week we can be in  even better shape. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I’m optimistic for Melbourne already.”
    Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer: “Getting a new car on track is the end result of a long process, one that took the hard work of hundreds of people back at the factory and trackside. We are happy with how this week has gone and I want to say a big ‘thank you’ for the incredible efforts of everyone here in Barcelona and in our facilities in Silverstone and Brackley. We have been able to build up good mileage and iron out some of the inevitable teething problems that you get with a new car. We are confident we have made some important steps forward in understanding the VJM10 and the new Pirelli tyres, and we are looking forward to next week’s test, when we will focus more on performance and race simulations.”

    eom/SFI press release

    Sergio Perez (MEX) Sahara Force India F1 VJM10.
    Formula One Testing, Day 4, Thursday 2nd March 2017. Barcelona, Spain.
  • Sahara Force India’s VJM10 makes track debut

    Sahara Force India’s VJM10 makes track debut

    Barcelona, 27 February 2017:

    Sahara Force India VJM10 makes track debut on 27 Feb 2017. A Sahara Force India image
    Sahara Force India’s VJM10 made its track debut today with Sergio Perez behind the wheel. The team completed a busy programme in the morning, before technical issues cut the day short.
    Chassis: VJM10-02
    Laps: 39 laps
    Mileage: 182km
    Best lap: 1:23.709 (P7)
    Sergio Perez: “It was a day of two halves. The morning was very productive: we managed to do a lot of what we had planned and we tried some different set-up options and tyre compounds. Things were looking quite positive throughout the morning and we had the chance to learn a lot from our new car. Unfortunately we didn’t run in the afternoon as a precaution and that cost us some track time. Hopefully tomorrow we can make up the lost ground with Esteban in the car: with a solid day, we can complete the rest of our programme and move forward with the plan.”
    Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer: “The morning went largely to plan as the VJM10 completed its first few laps. We built up the mileage on the car, doing short runs at first and then increasing the lap count. This allowed us to complete the basic systems checks on the car. We also started some aero mapping and got a useful first understanding of the 2017 tyres. Our work was cut short with an exhaust issue and we ended the day early as a precautionary measure. We are looking forward to tomorrow, when Esteban is in the car for his first experience of the VJM10.”
    eom/SFI press release
  • Sahara Force India reveals new look for 2017 season

    Sahara Force India reveals new look for 2017 season

    Sahara Force India launched its 2017 season today offering fans and media their first look at the team’s new car, the VJM10. Silverstone circuit was the venue as Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon pulled back the covers to reveal the team’s dynamic new look including an updated livery and expanded partner portfolio.
    The VJM10’s new aerodynamic package is guaranteed to get heads turning, while the silver and orange livery retains the team’s traditional colours with a fresh twist. Branding from Johnnie Walker appears on the rear wing and top of chassis marking the start of a partnership with the whisky brand. Telecommunications brands Claro, Telcel and Infinitum continue their partnerships for a fourth season, while NEC branding remains on the engine cover.
    Motor oil brand, Quaker State, continues its relationship with the team, as does long-time partner, Kingfisher, with its logo positioned on the engine cover. The VJM10 headrests carry eye-catching Hype Energy branding, while the team’s newest partner, FXTM, takes up a position on the rear of the sidepod. The team also welcomes eyewear brand, LDNR, with its logo on the front wing end plate.
    Team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya, was the first to praise the VJM10: “I can’t remember being more excited ahead of a new season. The VJM10 looks aggressive and purposeful, and is the result of a huge effort behind the scenes over the last twelve months. We have big hopes for this car, which looks stunning in its new livery.”
    With a complete overhaul of technical regulations, the VJM10 represents a clean sheet of paper in terms of design. “This year the cars are completely new and nothing can be carried over from previous years,” explained Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer. “Although we have completely new aerodynamics on the VJM10, it’s fair to say that our aero philosophy is very similar to 2015 and 2016.”
    Technical Director, Andrew Green, explained how the team has relished the challenge presented by the new rules and expects huge scope for in-season development: “It’s definitely a big overhaul; one that requires a change in mentality. It took a bit of time to adjust at first, but we are there now and I am confident we know where to look and where the performance is coming from with this car. The development slope is incredibly steep and we are going to see significant updates to the cars at regular intervals, right from the start; it’s going to be big updates and I don’t think development will start to taper off any time soon.”
    Vijay Mallya remained cautious on setting a target for the season, preferring to reserve judgement until the racing begins: “Simply repeating our performance level of 2016 will be a big task in itself. I don’t want to set goals or targets other than to say that we intend to maintain the momentum we have built up in recent years and carry it into the new season. There are too many unknowns to say more than this.”

    eom/Sahara Force India press release

    (L to R): Sergio Perez (MEX) Sahara Force India F1 and team mate Esteban Ocon (FRA) Sahara Force India F1 Team with the Sahara Force India F1 VJM10.
    Sahara Force India F1 VJM10 Launch, Wednesday 22nd February 2017. Silverstone, England.
  • Foresight & Vision partner with Sahara Force India

    Foresight & Vision partner with Sahara Force India

    Silverstone, 6 Feb 2017: Sahara Force India is pleased to welcome eyewear specialists, Foresight & Vision, as a partner for the 2017 season.
    The partnership will introduce eyewear brands, Eye Respect and LDNR, to the high profile world of Formula One racing with the Sahara Force India drivers and team members wearing a range of sunglasses at race events.
    The Eye Respect and LDNR brands combine fashion and practicality. Crafted by leading designers and made by hand, the brands have become a firm favourite for discerning users of spectacles andsunglasses.
    LDNR logos will appear on the team’s new car, the VJM10, as well as on the drivers’ race suits.
    Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director, Sahara Force India: “I’m very excited to begin our collaboration with Foresight & Vision. Formula One is the most glamorous global sport and a great match for a fashion brand. Eye Respect and LDNR have developed a wonderful range of glasses and sunglasses, which combine colour, style and elegance – the perfect addition to the Formula One paddock.”
    Jonathan van Blerk, CEO and Creative Director, Foresight & Vision: “Working with Sahara Force India is a perfect fit for our brand. We share their fighting spirit and we always strive to punch above our weight as we develop our eyewear brands. The Formula One environment gives us a fantastic opportunity to tell the world about our products and I’m truly delighted to begin our partnership with Sahara Force India.”
    eom/Sahara Force India press release

    Eye Respect Sahara Force India F1 Team Photoshoot.
    2nd February 2017.
    Silverstone, UK

  • FIA welcomes Liberty Media

    Paris, 24 Jan 2017: In a statement released on Tuesday, FIA, said: “The world governing body of motor sport, the FIA wishes to thank the outgoing CEO of the Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone for more than 40 years of dedication to the FIA Formula One World Championship and as a member of both the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council.The FIA was responsible for creating Formula One when it established the first regulations for the category in 1946.”

    The Federation remains committed to regulating the FIA Formula One World Championship fairly, safely, and in the best interests of the sport – as it has strived to do since its inception 67 years ago.

    The FIA President, Jean Todt, congratulated the new owners of the Formula One Group, Liberty Media Corporation.

    “As Formula One’s governing body, the FIA would like to welcome the new CEO, Chase Carey and his entire team to the Championship.

    “The whole FIA organisation is looking forward to working closely together, with the common goal of improving and growing the sport further with the support of the highly recognised skills of Liberty Media Corporation in the media and sport domains.”

    eom