INDIA in F1

Category: India In F1

  • 2012 Aussie GP: Force India Free Practice Report

    Sahara Force India made the most of mixed weather conditions in Albert Park as the 2012 season got underway with free practice for the Australian Grand Prix.
    Paul Di Resta (VJM05/02)
    FP1: P13 1:29.881 18 laps
    FP2: P6 1:31.466 13 laps
    Paul: “Difficult to say too much about the first or second session because the conditions were so inconsistent with the rain showers. Even so, we made the best of it and focussed on assessing the aero package we have here and managed to learn a few things. We also made some set-up changes between the two sessions and the car felt better in the evening, so that was positive. The difficult thing is that we didn’t really get an impression of where everybody is in terms of performance, so there are still lots of unknowns going into tomorrow.”
    Nico Hulkenberg (VJM05/03)
    FP1: P12 1:29.865 17 laps
    FP2: P2 1:29.292 19 laps
    Nico: “Both FP1 and FP2 had mixed conditions, especially FP2 with the heavy rain, which arrived just before the start of the session. But we made the best of it and I ran on the full wets, the intermediates and the soft tyres when the track had dried out. It’s difficult to read much from the times because not everyone ran the soft tyres and there were lots of different fuel loads, but the main thing for me is that I have a good feeling with the car already.”
    Jakob Andreasen, Chief Engineer
    “On days like this you just have to be patient and wait for the right opportunities, but it’s better to play the waiting game than run when the conditions are not ideal. Overall I think we were on track at the right times and on the right tyres, and it’s always worth going out even if there’s just a small thing you can learn. When we were on track we did some work evaluating our aero package and got some useful data. The most important thing is that we made the most of the dry periods to get the drivers into the rhythm of the track.”
  • Sahra Force India looks confident; Paul’s the driver to watch in 2012

    Sahra Force India looks confident; Paul’s the driver to watch in 2012

    Bangalore, 14 March 2012: Sahara Force India may have missed the fifth place by a whisker but what they achieved is phenomenal and for sure Paul Di Resta is the “Rookie of the Year”. Long time Force India driver Adrain Sutil, might have been given a go-by, but pundits feel it was a strategic decision as the team has a lot at stake this year and will be looking to invest in youth rather than harp on lost chances. Nico Roseberg will be second driver for Force India F1 team this season.

    As the season begins, Sahara Force India, with much more support and money in its kitty, gears up for the 2012 opener ‘Down Under’ at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.

    Liquour Baron and Force India team principal, Vijay Mallya, who has been battling bad publicity in his own country, India, because his airlines is weathering a turbulent period is confident that both the Kingfisher Airlines and the F1 team will take off well in the year to come. The Flamboyant master has a vision, King Size and he is all set to deliver. Over to the King of Good Times!!!

    “After the long winter months I think we are all looking forward to the start of the new season. Our testing form has looked competitive, but it’s only when we get to the first race that we really get a feel for the pecking order and how well everyone has done over the winter,” realises Vijay Mallya, the man who first brought the F1 car to India.

    “From our side there is no doubt that Andrew Green and his technical team have done an outstanding job to deliver a well-balanced car. I would even go as far as saying the VJM05 is the best engineered car we have produced and the detail of the design is beautiful. It’s a car we believe can help us take another step forward.

    “Driver-wise I’m extremely excited by our line-up this year. Nico and Paul are both young and hungry, and will ensure we squeeze every last thousandth from the car. There will be some healthy in-house rivalry, too, which will be fascinating to watch, and I believe that we will get better results in the long run by having two drivers pushing each other on.

    “As for Melbourne, it’s a city I enjoy visiting immensely and the track has produced some good races over the years. It was in Melbourne that Force India made its debut back in 2008 and it’s a good opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in the last five years.

    “As for expectations, I remain cautious on making predictions, simply because there are so many unknowns.  Our analysis suggests that we could see one of the closest grids in years, especially in the upper part of the midfield. Even so, our stated goal remains the same – to see Sahara Force India continue progressing and challenge the established teams that lie ahead of us.

    That is Dr. Vijay Mallya, the Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India F1 Team.

    Meanwhile, Paul Di Resta looks forward to racing in Melbourne for a second time:

     

    Paul, after three winter tests you must be keen for the season to finally begin…

    Yes, the build-up to Melbourne has been a while coming, but at the same time it doesn’t feel like there’s been that much testing. In fact, compared to last year, there has been one less test, but it’s been a good winter for us in general.

    You made your debut at last year’s Australian Grand Prix – what memories do you have going back there a year on…

    It’s a great place to start the season and the fans always get behind the race, so it will be interesting to see how it feels second time around. After a good winter break I’m just looking forward to getting back to the racing.

    What are your thoughts on the circuit?

    I enjoy the circuit. There’s a good balance between high and low speed, plus it’s a mixture between a street circuit and a permanent track, and that makes it quite unusual. I think the final sector stands out for me as the most interesting because it’s quite tricky and easy to get it wrong. We were strong on street circuits last year, especially Singapore, so hopefully that will continue.

    Any idea of the pecking order yet?

    I don’t think anybody can say they know for sure. All the teams around us look strong and have been consistent in testing, so we just have to wait and see. Also, I think almost every team will have some new parts on their cars so it really is too early to make any judgements. To begin with our goal is simply to try and pick up points at every race.

    On the other hand it would be the first Melbourne journey for Nico Hulkenberg with Sahara Force India. Here Nico answers a few questions:

     

    Nico, you’re all set for your first race as a Sahara Force India race driver. How does it feel?

    There’s a lot of excitement – that’s the word I keep using to describe how I’m feeling. And I think it will continue until the Sunday morning in Melbourne when I wake up knowing I will be racing again in a few hours. That’s when you feel the buzz and get the feeling of anticipation in your stomach.

    Do you feel you are back up to speed after a year away from racing?

    The testing has gone pretty well and it’s been crucial for helping me get prepared. But I know testing is very different to racing because you don’t have the same pressures of a race weekend. I think the true test will be qualifying when you have to deliver right away and you only get one chance.

    Is the Australian Grand Prix one of your favourite events on the calendar?

    My first race there in 2010 was cut short – only half a lap, but apart from that I have good memories from Melbourne and Australia in general. It’s one of those venues with a special atmosphere and the whole city seems so relaxed and friendly. It’s definitely up there with races like Monaco and Singapore in terms of the atmosphere and support from the fans.

    Will you get some free time to relax in Melbourne?

    It’s a race where we arrive very early to adapt to the time zone, so I will get a chance to look around the city, do some jogging, cycling and visit places like St Kilda beach. If there’s enough time I will try and explore the coast a bit.

     (This story is reported from Bangalore with inputs from F1 Team, Sahara Force India)

    ends

    Your INDIAinF1 editorial representative, photographer and reporter will report on all aspects of races in Melbourne, everything about India and Indians, and the F1 Special Correspondent will be present at Sepang, the next week-end too.


     

  • Narain debuts new HRT car, the F112 on `Promotional Filming’

    Baracelona, 5 Mar 2012: Narain Karthikeyan, had the honour of becoming the first driver to lap the F112, the car with which HRT F1 Team will compete this season, on March 5th. He completed a few installation laps for the promotional shooting at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona even as the engineers heaved a relief saying:  “All the hard work has finally paid off.”

    Karthikeyan too was excited: “The shakedown of the F112 felt good and it is a nice feeling to have the honour to be the first driver to test it. The first impressions are quite good; it’s definitely a step up from last year. We couldn’t do any set-up work or stuff like that but everything seems to be working fine and there are no major problems so we can look forward to the season now.

    “Everyone has worked hard and the new team management has put everything together in a very short period of time. They’ve done a proper job with the car and I’m sure that it’s a big step forward from last year, so hopefully we can take the competition to the teams we were fighting last year”.

    Earlier on Feb 3, HRT announced Karthikeyan as their second driver to complete the driver line-up for 2012 season. The first Indian to make it to the Formula 1 World Championship, will be entering into his third F1 season. Hispania Racing Team (HRT) will have 40-year old Pedro de la Rosa besides Narain.

    HRT’s new car was scheduled to debut in the second pre-season test at Barcelona on February 21 but could not do it. But the team has carried out work shifts to cover 24 hours a day to make sure it could make it, for the first time in its history, to the first Grand Prix of the season having run previously as the car passed the last crash test and was homologated a befor the filming opportunity. The car was able to run after the team took advantage of one of the filming days available during the season.

    The car made it to the circuit from Munich, Germany, just after one in the afternoon and the mechanics and engineers got straight down to business, working on relevant adjustments. It was a combined team effort, working against the clock, which saw its rewards four hours later when Narain Karthikeyan led the car out onto the track. Pedro de la Rosa, Dani Clos and Tonio Liuzzi were also present, as were Carlos Gracia, President of the Spanish Motorsports Federation and Salvador Servià, General Director of the Circuit de Catalunya.

    The tests were carried out without any setbacks and the car carried out over ten laps. The team was able to check that the car functioned properly both from a mechanical and aerodynamic point of view as from a systems standpoint.

    The team will prepare the necessary material in the upcoming days and head down under for the first Grand Prix of the season which will take place at Melbourne, Australia, in just two weeks.

    The 35-year old Karthikeyan, who finished all but one of the 8 races he started in 2011 for HRT before the drive was handed over to Daniel Ricciardo, came back for a one-off home race to show his expertise and many feel that his performance at the historic inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit is the reason for clinching the final seat on the grid. However, it is well-known that HRT was struggling not only at the back of the grid but was trying to rope in drivers who can bring in sponsors but Narain feels that he is fast enough among the contenders which brought the drive and believes that he and the team can benefit from the relationship.

    Team principal Luis Péres-Sala, said: “I’m very satisfied today as it is a very important day for us because we were able to test some things out with the new car during this filming day. I’m very proud of each and every member of this team because everyone has contributed their little bit for this to be possible. Now we have to focus on Australia because we still have a lot ahead”.

    Pedro de la Rosa said “Any sort of mileage before Australia is vital to see that the car is in good conditions. From here it is our job to try and improve it and make it progress”.

    Narain

  • Jules crashes, says sorry as Force India loses track time

    Jerez (Spain), 9 Feb 2012: It was a day of limited running for Sahara Force India in Jerez following a small off for Jules Bianchi early in the session. The mechanics worked hard to repair the right rear corner of the car, but ultimately the team was missing one small brake component, which prevented the car from returning to the track. The replacement part is expected to arrive this evening to allow Nico Hulkenberg to get his first run in the car on 10th morning, said a team release.

    Day 3 Stats:

    Chassis: VJM05-02

    Laps: 1.5

    Mileage: 6 km

    Fastest lap: None set

    Jules Bianchi: “I made a small mistake on my second run. The tyres were a bit cold and I spun into the gravel and touched the wall with the right rear wheel. It was not a very big impact, but it caused some damage. I’m very sorry because my mistake has cost the team a lot of time and effort. Going away from here I want to focus on the positives because we had a very good day yesterday and I’ve really enjoyed working with the team this week.”

    Andrew Green, Technical Director:  “A bit

    Bianchi, minutes before he crashed the car on Day 3 of testing at Jerez on Thursday. Force India photo.

    frustrating to lose some track time today, but we will take it on the chin because we had two very productive days earlier in the week with plenty of mileage. The damage to the car was not that significant, but a lack of spares at this time of year meant we could not go back out in the afternoon. The car will be ready for tomorrow morning when Nico gets his test programme underway. We will resume the aero work we started this morning and make the most of the tyres that we saved from today’s limited running.”

     

  • Great to sit in the new car so early on: Bianchi

    Great to sit in the new car so early on: Bianchi

    Jerez, 8 Feb 2012: Sahara Force India completed a second day of work in Jerez as new reserve driver, Jules Bianci, enjoyed his first run in the VJM05. In the afternoon Paul Di Resta returned to the cockpit to wrap up his time in the car this week.
    The programme saw a continuation of Tuesday’s work as the team continued to collect data and evaluated test items. As well as systems checks and further set-up evaluation, the team also carried out some aero work, said a team release.
    Jules is back in action tomorrow morning before he hands over to Nico Hulkenberg in the afternoon.
    Day Two Stats:
    Chassis: VJM05-02
    Laps: Jules: 46 / Paul: 69
    Mileage: Jules: 204 km / Paul: 306 km 
    Fastest lap: Jules 1:20.221 / Paul 1:20.272
    Jules Bianchi: “It was a really good morning and great to get my chance in the new car so early on. There was a lot to get used to, especially the steering wheel and remembering where all the switches are, but it didn’t take too long before I felt happy in the car. It may only have been half a day, but the team asked me to do quite a lot of things and we managed to complete almost 50 laps before lunch. For me this year is all about learning and helping the team as much as I can, so today was important for that and getting to know the team. It’s great that I am back in the car tomorrow and I will try and get closer to the limit, because it’s important preparation for my Friday practice running this year.”
    Paul Di Resta: “Half a day, but quite intense: 69 laps in just over three hours, which is a really good effort. But it was also one of the more difficult days because the wind seemed to get very strong from midday onwards, which made driving the car very tricky. However, we managed to get a clear direction on a couple of set-up changes so that’s given us an indication of the areas we should explore over the coming weeks. After 101 laps yesterday and 115 today, we’ve clearly built a good, strong car, but now it’s about getting into the detail, going over the data and getting ready for Barcelona.”
    Andrew Green, Technical Director
    “This morning was our first chance to work with Jules, so we focussed on getting him comfortable and familiar with all the systems on the car. He acclimatised quickly and soon found his rhythm, which meant we could push ahead with the aero work we had planned for this morning. He did an excellent job, worked well with the engineers and has settled into the team.
    “In the afternoon session, Paul evaluated some set-up options while running with different tyre compounds: soft, medium and hard. The windy track conditions made that quite challenging, but we made the best of it and managed to get an early indication of where we should focus our efforts to extract performance from the car.”

  • 101 laps for Paul, 2nd fastest time behind Kimi at Jerez

    Jerez, 7 Feb 2012: Sahara Force India driver Paul di Resta of Britain was happy with his own fitness and feels that the new car VJMO5-02 is up to the challenge for the 2012 F1 season which begins with the first Grand Prix at Melbourne on March 15.

    Paul completed 101

    Paul di Resta of Sahara Force India in VJM05-02 on Tuesday at Jerez. FI F1 team pic

    laps on Tuesday to clock the second fastest time behind Kimi Raikkonen said : “It was a good start to our winter test programme with 101 laps completed, which allowed us to get through all our objectives and a bit more.” With 447 kms under his belt in the new car Paul fastest lap was 1:19.772.

    The 25-year old, who performed well as a rookie last year for the Silverstone based team will have Nico Hulkenberg, who replaced Adrian Sutil, as the second driver. Jules Bianchi will be reserve driver, who is assured of a drive at least on 9 Fridays this season.

    Sahara Force India’s winter testing programme got underway on Tuesday as the team made the most of warm and sunny weather conditions in Jerez, Spain. The team started systems checks, data collection and set-up work.

    “The baseline balance felt pretty good and the car performed consistently over the longer runs, which was useful for collecting the data we need. So I think we can be positive and heading into the next three days will be interesting as we have more test items to evaluate. On a personal level it’s also nice to spend such a busy day in the car to shake off the rust and assess my fitness level,” said Paul di Resta.

    “It is an ideal way to begin our week as we compelted over 100 laps,” said team’s Technical Director Andrew Green. “We ran on the new 2012-spec hard and medium Pirelli tyre compounds throughout, which will help give us some consistency when analysing the data tonight. As usual, Paul’s feedback was excellent and we’re starting to get a good idea of the set-up direction we should take for the coming days. We will also continue with more of the work we started today and try to get as many miles on the car as possible.”

  • HRT signs up Narain Karthikeyan for another F1 season

    HRT signs up Narain Karthikeyan for another F1 season

    Narain Karthikeyan – File picture courtesy www.narainracing.com


    Bangalore, 3 Feb 2012 (Scorp News): Narain Karthikeyan, the first Indian to make it to the Formula 1 World Championship, will be entering into his third F1 season as he clinched a drive with the Spanish outfit, HRT F1 team, to complete the line-up of drivers for the 2012 F1 grid. Hispania Racing Team (HRT) announced Narain as in the line-up along side 40-year old Pedro de la Rosa, on Friday afternoon, on a day when the Ferrari team and Sahara Force India team were set to launch their new cars for the season.

    The 35-year old Karthikeyan, who finished all but one of the 8 races he started in 2011 for HRT before the drive was handed over to Daniel Ricciardo, came back for a one-off home race to show his expertise and many feel that his performance at the historic inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit is the reason for clinching the final seat on the grid. However, it is well-known that HRT was struggling not only at the back of the grid but was trying to rope in drivers who can bring in sponsors but Narain feels that he is fast enough among the contenders which brought the drive and believes that he and the team can benefit from the relationship.

    HRT’s new car is scheduled to debut in the second pre-season test at Barcelona on February 21 or in the next three days. Here is an interview with Narain Karthikeyan released by HRT:

    Q: It has finally been revealed that you will occupy the last seat available as an official driver, how are you facing this new challenge in Formula 1?

    Narain Karthikeyan: It all really started after the Indian GP, where we had a good performance which led to the belief that I am still competitive to drive in Formula 1. It is no secret how difficult it is to stay in F1 at this time, but I ensured that I was physically and mentally ready for any opportunity that arose. So I can’t wait to get back in the car and return to action once again.

    Q: The uncertainty you’ve faced in the period spanning from the end of last season until the moment you’ve been confirmed can’t have been easy to handle. What have you done to keep yourself occupied?

    NK: Well, there were more ups and downs than I can remember, positive and negative days – sometimes I just gave up but it was quickly followed by yet another glimmer of hope. It was exhausting mentally, but like the adage goes, all’s well that ends well.

    There was plenty to keep me occupied during the winter though, like I said earlier I trained as hard as I would have if my drive was confirmed last season; fitness is critical in F1 and racing in general. Then there were lots of discussions, which meant a lot of travelling – flights, hotel stays and those sorts of things. So I didn’t have a whole lot of time to sit and mull over things, to be honest.

    Q: This will be your third season in Formula 1, what targets have you set yourself?

    NK: As far as results go, it largely depends on the development of the car, although I must say that things are looking promising. Otherwise, I have no doubts in my ability, I am extremely confident as last year and after the first few races, I drove better than ever. So I’ll be pushing hard no doubt about that. A lot of things change this year even though it is the same team, and I am sure it’ll be for the better. The new management is wholly focused on all-round improvement and from what I have seen – they will do so.

    Q: Practically the whole structure is new with respect to 2011, what sensations have the new directors given you?

    NK: The team has some very capable and experienced people on-board now, like the new Team Principal Luis Pérez-Sala and my teammate Pedro de la Rosa. So things are definitely changing for the better ever since the new owners have taken over. Saul (Ruiz de Marco, HRT F1 CEO) has a very good approach to what F1 should be, by applying his entrepreneurship experience to the team and I’m sure that it will lead to better things. Everyone knows it is impossible to change things in F1 overnight but we have certainly taken strides in the right direction.

    Q: How would you define yourself as a driver?

    NK: One thing’s for sure – I never give up. I’m here, against all odds and expectations, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I have worked incredibly hard, I believe in my ability and know that I am as quick as anyone else out there.

    Q: What do you know about and what would you highlight about your teammate Pedro de la Rosa?

    NK: My first ever test was with Jaguar in 2001 and I remember Pedro was the team driver at the time. Even though I don’t know him very well, I know that he’s very experienced and from what I’ve seen, has a pleasant personality. We should be getting on well – it is not about trying to beat each other but working harmoniously to help the team progress as a whole. Healthy competition will collectively allow us to get the maximum out of the car and fast-forward the development process.

    He has a vast amount of developmental experience with a front-running team – so it’ll count a lot for the team in terms of approaching things and making the most out of our resources.

    Q: What do you think you can contribute to the team this year?

    NK: I am going to push as hard as possible, both inside and outside the cockpit and do whatever it takes to help the team progress in its rejuvenated form. Continuity is important in Formula 1 so I’m sure we’ll hit the ground running this year starting with some actual pre-season testing unlike last season where I first drove the new car on the opening race weekend in Australia. So there is all the incentive for me to ensure that I carry the team forward by delivering results and ensuring that nothing is left on the table as far as performance is concerned.

    Q: Coming from a country with not much motorsport tradition, what led you to pursue the dream of making it to Formula 1?

    NK: Ever since I started my racing career, I had just one goal in mind – Formula 1. It was definitely an unconventional dream to have, considering we had very little by the way of motorsport in India. Understandably, at the time I failed to realise what an uphill task it was. A more concrete picture emerged when I started racing in Europe, and it was during that time I came to terms with the harsh realities in earnest. We didn’t know the right steps to get to F1, but several setbacks made my resolve only stronger and my perseverance ultimately paid off when I made my debut in 2005.

    Q: Last year you made history by becoming the first Indian driver ever to race at the Indian GP. What dreams do you have left to fulfill?

    NK: For me, Formula 1 is a continued dream, it is always ultra-competitive and competing at the pinnacle of the sport is what I love. So I am very happy to have the opportunity to continue living my dream and I have every intention to make the best out of it.

     

    ends

  • Sahara Force India unveils VJM05, the 2012 F1 car

    Sahara Force India’s new challenger, the VJM05, was unveiled on Friday morning (2.30pm IST) at Silverstone circuit as team’s drivers Paul Di Resta and Hulkenberg removed the black covers off a stunning car that had the name `Sahara’ visible prominently in tune with the new co-owner of the team.

    After the car was unveiled, the two drivers Paul and Hulkenberg posed for pictures with recently-named reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

    Force India F1 Team did well to finish the 2011 season in the 6th place and is one of the precocious new generation of highly competitive regular points-scoring teams competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

    The VJM05 is the second car to be created under the watch of Technical Director, Andrew Green, as the team seeks to build on its on its sixth place finish in the constructors’ championship and take the fight to the teams that lie ahead.
    “We have set our sights on challenging for fifth place,” explained Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr. Vijay Mallya. “To do so we will need to begin the new campaign by delivering the kind of form we showed in the second half of 2011. I believe this is a realistic goal and that we have the talent and determination to realise these ambitions.”
    Chief Operating Officer, Otmar Szafnauer, echoed those sentiments as he praised the team’s efforts to develop the VJM05: “The new car has come together nicely over the winter. We don’t know what our competitors have done, but we’ve made some gains over the winter and believe we’re in reasonable shape. It’s going to be difficult in the midfield, but our focus is on starting strongly and improving our position from last season.”
    Summing up the approach to 2012, Andrew Green added: “The car looks more refined; a lot racier and a lot more purposeful. You can start to see the aerodynamic concepts coming through now. It looks quite a bit different to the previous years, and so far the performance in the tunnel has been encouraging.”
    The drivers were delighted to get their first glimpse of the new car and set out their hopes for the season ahead:
    Paul Di Resta: “Seeing the new car built and complete for the first time is always an exciting moment. It’s when you realise that all the waiting is finally over and the season is beginning for real. I’ve had a good winter and I’ve recharged my batteries, but now I’m fully focussed on 2012 and looking forward to the start of testing. There’s a really positive feeling in the team, good stability and hopefully we can pick up where we left off at the end of last year.”
    Nico Hulkenberg: “I saw the new car in the wind tunnel a few times and followed its progress during the winter. It looks aggressive and fast, but we won’t know where we stand until we get out there and compete against the others. Preparations for the new season have been full-on with simulator sessions and lots of fitness training. I feel ready to get back to racing and I’m excited to find out what the new car feels like next week.”
    Once again the Sahara Force India cars will be powered by the Mercedes engines with gearbox supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies. This will be the second season with the Mercedes KERS.
    Jules Bianchi (France) with Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) and Paul di Resta (Great Briton) with VJM05 –

    It’s a remarkable step forward for the tight-knit, small outfit that was created in 2007 after Orange India Holdings group, led by Dr Vijay Mallya and Jan and Michiel Mol, purchased the Silverstone based Spyker. A solid long-term plan, strong management and an insatiable hunger has enabled the crack team to move solidly up the order and moved from the back of the grid to sixth in the constructers championship in 2011. A dynamic team able to qualify and run in the top ten and give the frontrunners more than a little to worry about.

    The statistics bear witness: in 2009 it secured its debut pole, podium and fastest lap, in 2010 it was seventh in the championship with 68 points, nine top ten starts and 15 points scoring finishes: a consolidation of that early promise. Given the size and resources of the team, such a performance is even more remarkable.

    The team’s form is the crystallisation of the vision of owners Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, and Jan & Michiel Mol, Dutch e-commerce businessmen, laid down when they created the team in the final months of the 2007 season. The trio purchased the team from Spyker Cars N.V and for the 2008 team it was renamed Force India with its dynamic name and patriotic logo incorporating the colours of the Indian flag.

    The team is now a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, success-hungry, fast paced global Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation.

  • Sahara Force India names Jules Bianchi as reserve driver for 2012

    27 Jan 2012:Sahara Force India is pleased to announce that Jules Bianchi has joined the team as its reserve driver for the 2012 season, according to a Force India Press Release today.

    Jules Bianchi
    The 22-year-old Frenchman will be integrated in the team’s programme and will participate in a minimum of nine Friday practice sessions during Grand Prix weekends. In preparation for the 2012 season, Jules will get his first run in the VJM05 during pre-season testing next month.
    The appointment sees Sahara Force India continue its tradition of investing in young drivers and developing their skills by giving them time in the car.
    Jules Bianchi: “I’m obviously excited to join Sahara Force India and the chance to get track time during race weekends is an important step for me. Being regularly in a current car is the best way to learn quickly and I hope it will put me in a strong position to one day move into a race seat. The next few months will be really exciting as I get to know the team, see how they work, and prepare for my time in the car. I would like to thank everyone for believing in me and especially Sahara Force India for giving me this great opportunity.”
    Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “I am delighted to welcome Jules into the Sahara Force India family. We always keep an eye on young, talented drivers and his performance in GP2 certainly impressed us all. By giving Jules the opportunity to be part of our 2012 campaign, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to young drivers. We are proud of our track record in this regard and I have no doubt that Jules will quickly settle into the team and make a valuable contribution to our efforts on track this season.”

  • After a long wait, Force India confirms Hulkenberg to pair Paul di Resta for 2012

    16 Dec 2011: Sahara Force India Formula One Team  confirmed on Friday 16th Dec 2011 that Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg will form its line-up for the 2012 season in a press release today. Paul continues with the team for his second season in a race seat, while Nico steps up from his role as reserve driver.

    Together they form one of the most exciting pairings on the grid. Dr. Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “I am delighted to present our line-up for the 2012 season. In Paul and Nico we have two extremely talented drivers with tremendous potential. “I think Paul caught the eye of everybody in the pit lane during his rookie season. His speed, maturity and racecraft confirmed that we were right to believe in him and we look forward to working with him again next year. “As for Nico, we identified him as a rising star at the end of 2010 and chose to evaluate him during the course of this season. Despite having only limited time in the car, he convinced us that he deserved a race seat for 2012.

    “Our new line-up means we say ‘goodbye’ to Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team since we entered the sport. He has been an integral part of our success over the past four seasons and we wish him well for the future.” Paul Di Resta: “I’m really looking forward to my second season of Formula One and continuing to grow and develop with Sahara Force India. I’ve said all along that I love being part of this team: they are ambitious, hungry for success and we work well together. I’m really excited about 2012 and there is a real sense of belief that we can continue to push the top teams and take another step forward. I’d also like to thank the team for all their hard work this year and for all the support they’ve given me. I’ll take some time out over the next few weeks to recharge my batteries and hopefully come back even stronger in 2012.”

    Nico Hulkenberg: “I’m obviously delighted to be staying with Sahara Force India and to be given the chance to race next year. It wasn’t easy to watch from the sidelines this season, but I did my best to help the team and show what I was capable of. I’m extremely motivated for 2012 and would like to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me this chance. I’m keen to get down to work over the winter to develop our new car and help the team build on this year’s achievements. The first test in Jerez can’t come soon enough.” Images are free for download for any editorial use, please credit Sahara Force India Formula One Team. Commercial use should be approved by Sahara Force India.