INDIA in F1

Tag: Vijay Mallya

  • Sahara Force India feels podium-finish is not far away

    Bangalore, 7 May 2013: Sahara Force India, the only Indian team in the Formula One World Championship, began the 2013 season on a bright note with a double finish at the season opener in Australia but despite bad outings in Malaysia and luck deserting Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta matched  his career-best fourth-place finish in Bahrain for one of the best starts to the season for the Silverstone-based team.
    In a press release received here ahead the fourth round of the FIA F 1  World championship to be held at Barcelona next Sunday, team Principal Vijay Mallya was in upbeat mood and hopes that the team will do much better this year. At home in India, Vijay Mallya was in financial troubles with his popular airlines, Kingfisher grounded for many months and even Sahara in trouble with SEBI, the securities exchange board of the country. With the application for revival rejected and employees of the airlines yet to be paid their arrears, there were rumours that the F1 team might be in trouble, but the `King of Good Times’ repeatedly denied that the F1 team would be affected financially.
    The team is currently in 5th position, 3 points ahead of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes but will have to switch gears to keep the slot as McLaren is expected to zoom past as the F1 bandwagon arrives to its favourite desitination of Europe after four fly-away races. Paul di Rest scored 12 points in Bahrain after being in contention for a podium finish for better part of the race but had to manage his tyres with a two-stop strategy. He now has 20 points in the Drivers’ Championship and is in 8th place while teammate Adrian Sutil with the six points he earned in Australian GP is in 12 place.
    Team Principal and Managing Director, Vijay Mallya, reflects on the team’s best-ever start to a season saying: “The return to Europe after the first few flyaway races is an excellent moment to catch our breath and evaluate where we stand. Overall the balance is extremely positive for Sahara Force India with our best ever start to a season. In terms of points scored we are nine points up compared to last year and we’ve been up at the sharp end fighting with the big teams.
     
    “After the pit stop problems in Malaysia, points finishes in China and Bahrain have set us back on the right path, but nobody in the team is taking it for granted and we will not rest on our laurels. At both the factory and at the track, everyone is working hard to ensure we can build on these good results. We intend to hold our ground and remain in the hunt for points and podiums.
     
    “Looking at our drivers, the performances of Paul Di Resta confirm just how much he has matured as a driver. He’s delivering consistently every week and we are reaping the rewards of all his hard work. He suffered a difficult end to the 2012 season, but he’s shown great mental strength and determination to regroup over the winter and recapture his best form. He’s pushing the team on and demanding the best from everyone, which is what we need.
     
    “Adrian Sutil has also shown his speed so far but the luck has not gone his way. The last two races have been very frustrating because he’s been the victim of other drivers’ mistakes. Without these incidents he would surely have scored well in both China and Bahrain. His race pace in Bahrain was remarkable because he was one of the fastest cars on track,” he added.
     
    “Having come so tantalisingly close to the podium with Paul last time out, we head to Barcelona full of optimism. The hard work everyone is putting in is paying off and we hope to see the rewards this coming weekend,” Dr Mallya concluded.
     
    Paul Di Resta responds on Barcelona GP:
    Paul, you’ve enjoyed your strongest start to a season – what’s your feeling after four races…
    We’ve got to feel very happy with how things are going and I want to congratulate everybody in the team. We took a very sensible approach to the winter and focussed on understanding the key areas that drive performance, which seems to have paid off. It’s important to pick up good points early in the season against our competitors and to be ahead of McLaren after four races is a credit to the team and a nice feeling. Of course we want to be on the podium and it was very close in Bahrain, but I’m sure it will come soon enough.
     
    Do you feel you have a car that will be competitive on any type of circuit?
    The car is performing well, especially in the heat, and we were also strong in the cooler conditions of China – so that’s a good sign. The key is making sure you find the right operating window whatever the conditions because that’s what makes the difference. We need to keep doing what we’re doing, but at the same time we know the return to Europe always sees every team bring more upgrades. Hopefully we can stay fighting with the big teams and keep picking up the points.
     
    With two tests already completed in Barcelona do you feel well prepared ahead of this weekend’s race?
    I guess we have more data around Barcelona than anywhere else, but at the same time the temperatures will be much higher at this time of year. So I’d expect that to change things quite a lot and impact on the tyres. Also, it’s one of those tracks where you’re constantly chasing the right aero balance to cope with the long, high-speed corners, especially turn three. But when you come to the end of the lap you need the mechanical grip for the hairpins and chicanes.
    Adrian on Barcelona
    Adrian, four races in, how do you sum up the start of 2013?
    The start of the season was good, especially if you consider I had only two or three test days to prepare. Australia was a strong race and the best way to come back to Formula One. Since then I’ve been unlucky with being hit in China and the puncture in Bahrain, and I definitely missed out on a few good points. On the other hand there are lots of positives, especially the performance of the car and the experience of the races. It is still early in the season so there is more to come and the car is really fast. I’m sure we can recover the points we lost in the last few races.
     
    How hard is it to accept the disappointment when you’re simply in the wrong place at the wrong time – as was the case in China and Bahrain?
    These things happen all the time in Formula One – sometimes you benefit from them and sometimes it goes against you instead. They all balance by the end of the year. I try not to spend too much time thinking about the negatives, I try to move on and focus on how to do better. If something happens, I think whether I did anything wrong, learn from it and avoid doing it again.
     
    What do you expect from the upcoming race in Barcelona?
    I know Barcelona really well from all the testing we’ve done there over the years. It is important, after three difficult races without points, to finish the race without any incidents. If I do that, I should have the pace to be among the front-runners. I have to do my job, avoid mistakes and hopefully my luck will change. Wherever we have gone so far, the car has been competitive, so the next few races should see us scoring points and close to the podium.
    To watch the  latest video interview with Adrian Sutil use the following link: http://youtu.be/4a_2_drbK1I
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  • It’s too early to get carried away: Paul di Resta

    Bangalore, 23 April 2013: With the completion of the fly-away races, the F1 circus moves to Europe for its first race in Spain on May 12. Sahara Force India drivers Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil were in Bangalore for a promotion and watched the Royal Challengers’ cricket match and also briefly interacted with the reporters. A blog released on Monday showed the team in an upbeat mood. But Paul cautioned, it is too early to get carried away and warned that things could quickly change in F1.

    The mood from a blog in the team website:

    Celebrating a great result is one of the sweetest parts of being in a Formula One team. The tension, the adrenaline and all the emotions get discharged and you can just relax and enjoy the fruit of your work. It’s a moment for pats on the back, for telling each other well done and fly to the next race in an upbeat mood.

    As we head back to Europe for the start of crucial series of races closer to home, these are the feelings in the Sahara Force India camp. The race in Bahrain showed some brilliant indication of the potential of our car: in Paul’s case, a perfect performance so close to rewarding him with his first ever podium! To see our driver lead the race and battle with World Champions, leaving behind some huge rivals to bring home 12 points is a fantastic feeling, and one we hope to feel over and over again this season.

    Paul drove a faultless race on a track he loves: he was smooth when he needed to be, aggressive when required. He finished the race on a two-stop strategy when other teams required four, a testament to both the VJM06 balance and Paul’s fine tyre management skills. In the end, our ace could not stop Räikkönen and Grosjean from finishing on the podium: but in a Championship with so many bright stars, a fourth place does a lot for a team’s position in the standings.

    There is optimism also in Adrian’s camp. He was extremely fast on the Sakhir track, but the first lap collision with Massa left him with a long and hard way up the rankings. Still, recovering to 13th position was an impressive feat: especially so when you consider that from lap 3 he was five seconds faster than eventual race winner Vettel over the race distance! While we know a rival’s mistake cost him the chance to get some big points, the confidence that the VJM06 and Adrian are a powerful combination make us look eagerly on to the next few rounds.

    We may have missed out on a podium yesterday, but the feeling within the team is that we are growing stronger each race. We are facing mighty rivals and we are increasingly doing so on a level footing; and when luck will be on our side (and our opponents will stay away from crashing into our cars!) we will strike for an even better result.

    The Bahrain Grand Prix confirmed us in fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship standings. As we head back to Europe for races in Spain and Monaco, this is a great situation to build on. Everyone in the team is buzzing with excitement, and we can’t wait to go racing again. Stick with us – the best is yet to come!

    ends

  • Paul di Resta finishes a strong 4th in Bahrain GP

    Bahrain, 21 April 2013:It was a successful day for Sahara Force India in Bahrain as Paul Di Resta raced to a strong fourth place. Teammate Adrian Sutil’s hopes of points ended with a first lap puncture in the Bahrain GP, the fourth round of the FIA Formula One World Championship which was won by Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel. Kimi Raikkonen in second and Romain Grosjean, who overtook Paul in the last few laps, made it a strong 2-3 finish for Lotus team. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel used a three-stop strategy to extend his drivers championship lead to 10 points. Vettel started from second on the grid on the P Zero White medium tyre and then completed two stints on the P Zero Orange hard tyre to seal his 28th career win by over nine seconds.Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen using a two-stop strategy and his team-mate Romain Grosjean coming third with a three-stop strategy. Grosjean passed Force India’s Paul di Resta, who was also on a two-stop strategy, in the closing stages to ensure that the 2013 Bahrain podium was identical to the podium line-up last year.

    Quotes from Sahara Force India stable:

    P4        Paul Di Resta VJM06-04
    Tyre strategy: Medium, Hard, Hard
    Paul: “It’s great to round off the fly-away races with a fourth place and a race that was probably my strongest Grand Prix. The podium was very close, but with our strategy we were always going to be vulnerable at the end of the race – especially to Grosjean who had two new sets of medium tyres. I had a good start to the race, a strong opening stint and we showed our true speed today, but ultimately fourth place was the maximum that was possible. We will get on the podium one day, hopefully soon, but for now we can be very happy with the points we’ve scored today. A big thanks to the whole team because it’s been an excellent weekend and I feel we managed to get 100% out of the car.”
    P13      Adrian Sutil    VJM06-03
    Tyre strategy: Medium, Hard, Hard, Medium
    Adrian: “It’s disappointing to get a puncture in a race that looked so promising. My start was clean and I was racing Massa going into turn four. I was on the outside; I gave him a lot of space but he was off-line and made contact with my front right tyre. I don’t know what he did exactly but I had a puncture immediately. I had to pit and lost a lot of time, which ended my chance of scoring points. I had amazing pace in the race and I just kept my head down to try and recover something from the race, but I had lost too much with the puncture. But I’m happy for the team and fourth place for Paul gives us more points. There are many more races to come so we will keep focused and next time score points with both cars.”
     
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director
    “A tremendous job by the team and a wonderful drive by Paul saw us come within a whisker of the podium today. Although we missed out on third, the twelve points scored keep us up in fifth place in the Championship and give us every reason to be optimistic for the coming races. Of course, we could have achieved so much more had Adrian not picked up a puncture on lap one. The contact with Massa proved very costly because Adrian’s race pace was on a par with Paul’s and we should have brought both cars home in the points. We will focus on the positives and enjoy this fourth place, which has confirmed the pace of the car and shown once again that we can race up at the front and beat some of the top teams.”
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  • Sahara Force India looks forward to Bahrain

    Bahrain 18 April 2013: Just a few short days have elapsed since Fernando Alonso scored Ferrari’s first victory of the 2013 season in China, but Formula One is already deep in preparations for round four of the championship, which takes place this coming weekend in Bahrain.

    Sahara Force India gets set for round four of the season in Bahrain as Team Principal Vijay Mallya expects the team to realise its full potential in Bahrain. He said: 

    “Last weekend’s race in China left us with mixed feelings: the pace of the VJM06 was evident throughout the sessions and we would have been on track to place both Paul and Adrian in the points had it not been for the unfortunate accident with Gutierrez in the opening stages.

     

    Paul’s pace, especially when he had clear air, was indicative of the quality of the work done by the team. We were also very satisfied by the good job done in the pits with a clean and fast final stop helping Paul emerge ahead of Grosjean and Hulkenberg after a race-long battle.

     

    We now head to Bahrain, where last year we had an excellent result with Paul finishing sixth. This track, with its high temperature and smooth surface, has generally suited our car and we hope this will be the case this weekend. With a bit more luck, we will be able to fully exploit the potential of our car and get some more points on the board before the European leg of the season.“

     

    Sahara Force India’s Paul di Rest answers questions ahead of Bahrain.

    You were back in the points in China with a great drive – tell us how it felt in the car…
    Overall it was a good result when you consider how the first half of the race went. I was stuck in traffic, my tyres were graining and I couldn’t move forward. Fortunately we got ourselves into some clean air after my second pit stop and I think we showed that the potential of the car is very strong. We thought we would have to go on the softs at the end and overtake some cars, but we had such good speed that we managed to jump them with our strategy. In the end we left China feeling pretty satisfied, but knowing that there is more potential to come.
    What are your thoughts on Bahrain?
    I’m looking forward to it. We’re back in the hot weather and we were strong in the heat of Malaysia so there are no real worries. Last year the car worked well in Bahrain, which gives us confidence heading into the weekend. We’ve got a few things to understand and I think we can go forward a bit more. We’re back to the medium and hard, the same as we had in Malaysia, where we were strong.
    What do you need from the car there?
    A bit more speed, as we always do! We need a clearer weekend; we don’t need things to go wrong, as they did in FP3 in China. It lost us a session, lost us a few hundredths, and that would have made the difference to put us out of position in qualifying to have an easier first lap. So that will be the plan – to be more consistent.
    I like the Sakhir track, says Adrian Sutil
    Adrian, sum up your feelings after China…
    The race was very short. I had a little incident with Paul early on, but we spoke about it, and there’s no problem. For the next few laps I was catching up the cars in front and then Gutierrez just missed his braking point and crashed into my rear. It’s frustrating, but what can you do? He will learn so there are no hard feelings. Hopefully he will not do it again.
    Looking at where Paul finished would it have been easy to get some good points?
    It’s never easy, but I think we can learn quite a lot out of the race. The pace was not so good at the beginning, but much better at the end. We have to understand why. Paul got some good points for the team, but we lost some pace this weekend in general, and there were quite a few quick cars who didn’t finish the race. So we have to get a move on in Bahrain! It should be better for us there.
    Is Sakhir a track you enjoy?
    I like it, yes. With a good car I like almost every circuit. The track is not one of the most difficult ones, but it has a lot of big braking points, so you need a strong car on the brakes. The heat is very different to China, with very high temperatures, and also there’s a different combination of tyres.
    BIC, a challenging track
    The Bahrain International Circuit joined the F1 calendar in 2004 and has hosted the grand prix eight times. During that time it has established itself as uniquely challenging track. The dusty environment can cause problems for engines, the heat of the desert makes cooling a priority and the mix of slow-speed corners at the end of long straights means that the BIC is one of the most severe on brakes all season. While tyres are already defining the shape of the championship, the dust here adds yet another variable to their use, with graining exacerbated when the track is dirty. The mix of high and low-speed sections also means that set-up is something of a compromise.

    It all means that the Bahrain GP will not be an easy race for any team. However, on the back of Alonso’s win in China, Ferrari will arrive here brimming with confidence. That optimism will be heightened by the knowledge that the Spaniard has been the dominant force at the BIC, taking three victories here – in 2005/’06 and in 2010. They’ll also take heart from the fact that the next most successful driver is Alonso’s team-mate, the rejuvenated Felipe Massa, who has two wins under his belt, in ’07 and ’08.

    They surely won’t have it all own way, however. Sebastian Vettel’s fourth place in China keeps him in charge of the drivers’ title standings and Kimi Raikkonen’s second place last weekend means he arrives here in second place just three points behind the Red Bull man. Both will be looking to maintain their charge here, but with Mercedes looking ominously competitive and Jenson Button’s fifth place in China proving that McLaren are getting back to their best the weekend’s grand prix is as wide open as the desert landscape in which it will be run.

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  • Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz in long-term powertrain supply agreement

    Bangalore, 28 March 2013: Sahara Force India and Mercedes-Benz are delighted to announce the signature of a long-term agreement for the Silverstone-based team to use a full Mercedes-Benz powertrain from the 2014 season onwards, said a Press Release here on Thursday.
    The agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply Sahara Force India with a complete Power Unit (Internal Combustion Engine plus Energy Recovery System), transmission and all associated ancillary systems under the new regulations for 2014.
    Mercedes-Benz entered the era of customer engine supply in 2009 with the Silverstone-based team and this close working relationship is now in its fifth season. These historic links and the growing competitiveness of Sahara Force India helped pave the way for an expansion of the existing partnership to also include the supply of the gearbox and hydraulic systems.
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “Our new agreement with Mercedes-Benz for the coming years is the most significant in the history of Sahara Force India. With new powertrain regulations being introduced next year, I can’t think of a better partner to work with as Formula One enters a new and exciting era. The agreement gives us the long-term stability we require and will enable us to continue our journey towards the front of the Formula One grid.”
    Toto Wolff, Executive Director of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS: “It is a significant milestone to announce our first long-term agreement for powertrain supply under the 2014 regulations. Sahara Force India was our first genuine customer in Formula One back in 2009 and we are delighted to enter an expanded, long-term relationship with them from 2014 onwards. This long-term agreement offers excellent value in terms of the balance between price and performance. We hope it will mean Mercedes-Benz and Sahara Force India working together for the entire life cycle of the new powertrain generation.”
    ends

  • Sutil starts on P8 hoping for a dry race; Kimi penalised

    Sepang, 23 March 2013: Sahara Force India showed good pace in today’s Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying with Adrian Sutil topping the time charts in Q1. However, rain played spoilsport as Sahara Force India cars had good pace in the dry. 
    In the Q2, only Adrian Sutil could go through to Q3 and finally he qualified in ninth place. Adrian will move ahead a place following the stewards’ penalty for Kimi Raikkonen for obstructing Nico Roseberg. Raikkonen will now start on P10.
    Paul Di Resta was caught out by rain showers in Q2 and will start from P15. Paul had an off-the-road excursion in one lap and in the very next took a multi-spin to finish way back and failed to qualify for Q3. He will start from P15.
    King of Good Times, Vijay Mallya, will be arriving on Saturday and will be present with the team on Sunday. Sahara Force India, who finished 7th in the Constructors’ standings in 2012 where they consistently competed with Sauber team but lost out the sixth place. The goal for this year, is to regain the sixth place and the team started the season well with a double finish in Melbourne and with 10 points in the kitty, they will be looking for a dry race to score more points tomorrow.
    P9        Adrian Sutil    VJM06-03
    Q1:      1:36.809
    Q2:      1:36.834
    Q3:      1:53.439
    Adrian: “It’s a shame that the rain arrived for Q3 because our pace in the dry had been very strong. I’m still not totally confident with these tyres in the wet and the car was sliding around in the corners with too much oversteer. I will hope for a dry race because we have a competitive car and I’m happy with the balance. The target is to try and push to the front tomorrow with a good strategy and come away with points or maybe more.”
    P15      Paul Di Resta VJM06-04
    Q1:      1:37.493
    Q2:      1:44.509
    Paul: “Quite a frustrating day because we got caught out by the weather. We’ve looked strong this weekend so felt quite confident heading into qualifying, but the rain arrived earlier than the team expected. Now we need to see what the weather does tomorrow, but I will certainly come back fighting. I’ve got lots of new tyres, which is more than enough to complete the race and the car has been working well here so far.”
    Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
    “We ended qualifying today feeling a little bit disappointed. Throughout practice we have been very competitive in the dry and Adrian demonstrated that once again during Q1 when he set the fastest time. In Q2 we misjudged the weather with the rain coming in earlier than anticipated, which proved very costly for Paul who didn’t have time to complete his quick lap in the dry. Adrian progressed to Q3 but struggled in the wet conditions and didn’t feel comfortable on the intermediates. Had it been dry, I’m confident he would have been higher up the grid. Going into the race we will keep a close eye on the weather and be pushing hard to get both drivers home in the points.”
    ends

     

  • Sahara Force India looks to build on good start: Mallya

    Sepang, 19 March 2013: Sahara Force India looks forward to round two of the FIA Formula One World Championship in Sepang on March 24. The team started the season with a bang with a double points finish in Melbourne last Sunday and is looking forward to more points in Malaysia.
    Team Principal and Managing Director, Dr Vijay Mallya, reflects on the team’s best ever start to a Formula One season.
    The first back-to-back races of the season mean we are already heading to Malaysia for the second round of the Championship. We have scored points in Sepang the last three times we raced there, including a double-points finish last year, and I believe we can build on the early-season momentum to bring home a valuable result.
    Last weekend’s race in Melbourne was a great demonstration of how far the team has come lately: to race against the established front-runners on merit shows the quality of our car, of our driver line-up and of the work everyone in the team is producing every day, whether at the factory or at the circuit. We have led the last two races and hopefully soon we will have a special result to repay all that effort.
    With improved results come increased responsibilities: the whole world of Formula One – our rivals, the media and the fans – now look at Sahara Force India as a competitor for points at every race. It is our duty to sustain this scrutiny by going out every day and performing to our best to keep challenging the top teams in the world.
    “The 2013 Championship is just at the beginning, and it is important not to get carried away with enthusiasm: we will need to channel this positive energy into consistently good performances and continue to improve. We are on a good road, and we must all keep progressing,” the Indian liquor baron concluded.
    Paul di Resta on Malaysia
    Paul, what’s your overall feeling about finishing eighth in the first race?
    It’s positive to have four points on the board already, but it’s a shame I was stuck behind Jenson at the beginning of my second stint. He was running a three-stop race and essentially that’s what lost me a lot of track position. We’ve got some things we need to pick up on and we can definitely make some improvements, but we’re in a good place to start the season. Also, we’ve seen already that we can make a stop less than some of our competitors so let’s see if that remains the case in Malaysia.
    Any thoughts on Malaysia?
    You never know what to expect! It could rain, or it could be dry. Temperatures are going to be high, degradation is going to be high, but I think our car is going to suit the warm weather. We’ve had a reasonably strong performance for the last couple of years in Malaysia, so I think we should go there feeling quite optimistic. We have a few days to conquer the jet lag and hopefully be fighting fit.
    Is it a track you enjoy?
    I think it is probably one of the most complete tracks of the season. It was the very first of the new generation tracks and it has nice flowing sections, some slow bits, as well as high-speed chicanes. I think it’s one of the better tracks on the calendar. Along with the next one in Shanghai, it’s one of the tracks I enjoy.
    Adrian Sutil on Malaysia
    Adrian, you had an incredible race in Australia. How would you sum it up?
    It was a great feeling! We were on a different strategy and we knew we would probably go to the front quite early in the race, but we never expected to be leading for such a long time. It was a surprise for everyone and even more of a surprise that we could keep all the cars behind us while doing really competitive lap times. I actually pulled away from Vettel at one stage in the race. I knew the car was fast, I felt good, I felt confident. On the supersofts I had to give up a few positions, that was normal, that was our strategy because you had to be on them at least once. But I’m not disappointed at all, seventh place is a good way to start the season.
    You’ve fought with drivers from the top teams before, but in the rain or other unusual circumstances. Is it different when everyone is flat out?
    In the rain it’s easier sometimes to be at the front and race with the top teams, but in the dry it’s more difficult and normally never happens. It’s amazing to see that it was possible in Australia and don’t forget that Nico [Hulkenberg] led for this team at the final race of last year too. There are opportunities, and if you believe in it, you can take those chances. If you don’t believe you can win, you will never win. It’s just an approach, I think. It’s important to set your mind. It’s sometimes hard because we are usually in the midfield, but you should always think a step further.
    Any thoughts on going back to Malaysia?
    I finished fifth in 2010, so I have some good memories. It’s not my favourite track, but it depends on the car. If the car is quick and stable, you enjoy it more, but sometimes you really struggle with the balance, and then it’s a real challenge – the corners are so long, you need a lot of aerodynamic grip. It’s a track I like to drive, but it’s not like a Monaco or a Spa. I don’t really know what effect the high temperatures will have because we haven’t had them during testing. I think the weather in Australia suited us quite well, so let’s see how Malaysia is.
    Paul di Resta took 8th place and four points in Melbourne last Sunday. A Sahara Force India photo

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  • Finally, Adrian Sutil gets Sahara Force India drive

    Barcelona, 28 Feb 2013: In an official statement today, Sahara Force India said it was pleased to announce that Adrian Sutil would complete its driver line-up for the 2013 season.
    The 30-year-old German will race alongside Paul Di Resta, recreating the successful partnership that raced together during the 2011 season.
    The 2013 campaign will be Adrian’s fifth racing season in the colours of Sahara Force India and his sixth year of Formula One competition.
    Adrian will test for the team this week in Barcelona, driving on Friday and Saturday. Paul Di Resta will be back in the car on Sunday.
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: “The decision over our driver line-up has not been an easy one and we have given it great consideration over the last few months. It was a close call, but ultimately we felt that Adrian’s experience and historic links to the team gave him the edge, and will provide us with the best possible chance of realising our ambitions for the coming season. If he can rediscover the exceptional form he showed in the second half of 2011, I’m confident that we can pick up where we left off at the end of 2012. As for Jules Bianchi, he has impressed us enormously with his speed and work ethic, and I’m hopeful we can continue working with him this year to help him develop into a future Grand Prix driver.”
    Adrian Sutil: “I’m delighted to be back in Formula One, especially with a team I know so well. I’m very happy and I want to thank Sahara Force India for giving me a second chance. Having been away from the sport, I’m even more determined to achieve my goals in Formula One. Things went really well at the Barcelona test last week and it almost feels as though I’ve never been away. Driving the car felt so natural and I was able to get back in the groove quickly and find the limit. Now my focus is on making the most of the final test session this week, working with the team in the simulator and getting myself in the best possible shape for Melbourne.”
    A Sahara Force India photo of Adrian Sutil in the car.

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  • TW Steel, now Official Timing Partner to Sahara Force India

    TW Steel CEO Jordy Cobelens (left) and Bob Fernley pose after the partnership.. A photo by Sahara Force India.

    Sahara Force India is proud to announce the beginning of a multi-year partnership with TW Steel, which sees the Dutch watchmaker become the team’s Official Timing Partner.

    The global lifestyle brand known for being ‘Big in Oversized Watches’ was unveiled as a team partner at the launch of Sahara Force India’s 2013 challenger, the VJM06, at Silverstone Circuit this morning.
    The recognisable ‘two-dots’ logo of TW Steel, will feature prominently on the team’s major brand platforms including the car, the drop-down timing monitors used in the garages and on the sleeves of the drivers’ racesuits. 
    As part of its commitment to Sahara Force India, TW Steel will produce an official team watch range for retail world-wide. The brand will use this new global partnership as a marketing platform to engage consumers through the 6000 retail outlets currently selling the brand in over 100 countries worldwide.
    Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India: “The partnership with TW Steel is the perfect way to begin the 2013 season and we are delighted to welcome them to the Sahara Force India family. With the global reach of Formula One, our unique positioning in the Indian market place and our shared ambition for success on the track, I am sure that the relationship will bring big rewards for both TW Steel and Sahara Force India.”
    TW Steel CEO and co-owner, Jordy Cobelens: “I’m naturally very excited to be partnering with Sahara Force India. We know the merits of being involved with a team competing in Formula One and the brand awareness that brings. Our new partnership represents a relationship where both parties are keen to bring success to each other. Sahara Force India has such a strong following around the world, notably of course in India, a key growth opportunity we’ve targeted for TW Steel’s on-going development. I’m excited to have our brand working with such fantastic entrepreneurs as Dr Vijay Mallya and Mr Subrata Roy Sahara.  Like TW Steel they’ve showcased their ambition and proved they like to make bold statements. We have lots of synergy and we look forward to being a part of the team’s progressive journey both on and off track.”
    About TW Steel
    With its name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, TW Steel is firmly established as a big, bold, global lifestyle brand.  Its timepiece collections are reflective of and available for all tastes and occasions with innovative design and luxurious styling paired together with Swiss build quality and an exceptional price point.  TW Steel offers a defined sense of individuality and shows to the world that as a bold and ambitious personality, you wear a statement watch that truly reflects who you are.
    Proudly Dutch, TW Steel is led by its entrepreneurial CEO and co-owner Jordy Cobelens – whose talents have been recognized with Ernst & Young’s ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2011’ in The Netherlands.  While Jordy Cobelens oversees the building of the TW Steel brand, his father and co-owner, Ton Cobelens, serves as the Chief Design Officer.  Having launched in 2005, and now with 140 models, TW Steel has attained a global appeal while creating an internationally recognized and respected brand name offering truly affordable luxury available in over 100 countries. www.twsteel.com
    About Sahara Force India Formula One Team
    Sahara Force India Formula One Team is beginning its sixth year of competition in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The team was founded in 2008 when Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, launched the first-ever Indian Formula One team. The cars incorporate the colours of the Indian flag and the team is a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, aspirational Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation. In 2011 a historic partnership was agreed as Sahara India Pariwar became co-owners of the Silverstone-based team. With the support of Sahara, the team is driven by two of India’s greatest industrialists who both recognise the value of using sport as a marketing platform to build some of India’s biggest brands.  For more details visit: www.saharaforceindiaf1.com

  • Sahara Force India gets £50 million boost

    Sao Paulo, 21 Nov 2012:Dr Vijay Mallya, Sahara

    File photo of Dr Vijay Mallya, courtesy Sahara Force India F1 team.

    Force India team principal revealed today that the F1 team’s Board has approved a sum of £50 million capital investment programme for the team as he sums up 2012 and looks ahead to the season finale here on Sunday.

    “We had a board meeting in India after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the board has approved a £50 million capital investment programme for the team. We are going to invest heavily in new technology and give more tools to our design team to try and move further up the grid,” said the beer baron of India.
    Last year, Sahara Force India finished in sixth place ahead of Sauber but going into the last race the Indian team is 12 points behind Sauber. But they have been improving year after year and have scored more points this year. With one race to go the team has 99 points.
    “Looking back at the season so far, we have every reason to feel proud. We’ve scored more points than in any previous season and every year we’ve demonstrated that we’ve gone up the ladder. And we’ve taken fairly significant steps, not just baby steps. Given the tools that we have, which are mostly of the Jordan era, we have done exceptionally well,” felt Vijay Mallya.
    With the championship’s driver’s title precariously poised and with the prediction of rain, it is anybody’s game. Though Sebastian Vettel is leading by 13 points, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso hopes different circumstances will give him a better chance to beat Vettel. Meanwhile, Mallya is hoping that Nico will come good at a place where he has good memories.
     
    “We hope that Nico will be able to pull off what he did for Williams in 2010 [pole position]. That’s what is needed if we want to catch Sauber! Otherwise I hope we can end the season with a strong result. Two cars in the points would be nice. Up at the front I look forward to seeing how the fight in the drivers’ championship concludes because it’s never over until it’s over.  Also, many congratulations to Red Bull for securing the constructors’ championship in Austin,”  said Mallya.
    The team says goodbye to Nico this weekend and when asked how much has Nico contributed to the team this season, Vijay Mallya said: “Nico has been one of the stars this season. He’s delivered exactly what we expected of him and brought a lot to this team. He has a big future in Formula One and we wish him well.”
    Nico on Brazil
    Nico Hulkenberg gets set for his last race with the team and hopes to capture a special result.
    Nico, another four points in Austin brings your total to 53. How do you look back on the second half of the year?
    It has been very positive. We had some good results in the first half too, but I think we found our consistency after the summer break. I think some of my best races were Japan and Korea where we didn’t necessarily expect to do so well. To score points there was very satisfying. Also, races such as Austin, where I was under so much pressure towards the end are the moments I will remember from the second part of the year. These were races where we maximised everything.
    Your two-year spell with the team comes to an end this weekend. How much have you enjoyed being a part of Sahara Force India?
    First of all I want to thank everyone for believing in me and giving me the chance to return to Formula One this year as a race driver. I’ve learned a lot during the last two seasons, even as a third driver, and the time has flown by very quickly. It’s a great team of people; they’re fun to work with and I think we can be proud of the results we achieved together. That’s why it was not an easy decision to leave, but I’m happy to be leaving with good memories. The task now is to end the year in style with a great result.
    Paul on Brazil
    Paul Di Resta looks back on the season.
    Paul, after 19 races you’ve scored 46 points. Are you happy with the season as a whole?
    I think as a whole it has been a good year. For me the standout races are Bahrain and Singapore – races where everything came together. The second half of the season has been more mixed. When you look at the results on paper, it certainly doesn’t tell the whole story. For various reasons some good results slipped away from us and we’ve had issues that held us back while we tried to understand them. The last race in Austin was looking very positive to begin with, but after my pit stop I just could not get the tyres to work, so I’m hoping that the conditions in Brazil will suit me better.
    You raced in Brazil for the first time last year. Tell us about that experience…
    I enjoy the circuit, but at the same time it’s quite tricky because of the undulating layout and there are some unusual corners. It’s also quite a tough track on your neck because of the anti-clockwise layout and the high number of left-hand corners. After three races on very new circuits it will make a nice change to go back to one of the classic old-school tracks. It’s a circuit that usually produces good racing and there’s also talk of rain, which would add another element into the mix.
    ends