Force India unveiled the VJM10 at a press event at Silverstone featuring an unique take on the sport’s 2017 regulations.
As was the case with the previous three Formula 1 cars released so far this year, the VJM10 features a thumb-tip nose and a huge shark fin, as well as significantly different front and rear wings to meet the new aerodynamic rules.
The Mercedes-powered design will be driven by team regular Sergio Perez and former Manor driver Esteban Ocon, who replaces Renault-bound Nico Hulkenberg.
It is the tenth Formula 1 challenger produced under the Force India brand, with the sometime Jordan, Midland and Spyker team now nearly a decade into its stint under Vijay Mallya.
Force India enjoyed its strongest season to date in 2016, when it finished in fourth position in the constructors’ championship with 173 points, beating the likes of Williams and McLaren.
“I’m very excited,” said Mallya as the car was unveiled.
“Many commentators have said we punch well above our weight and to add to that we are world champions for the amount of money spent.
“It is a huge compliment, it speaks volumes for the passions, creativity and talent of my team and everyone at the factory.
“This passion will get more intense and the passion to improve further is going to be pretty relevant in 2017.”
Technical director Andy Green said the scale of design change prompted by the new regulations was much higher than usual.
“Compared to previous seasons, this is as close to brand new – it is 95% brand new,” he said.
“The philosophy is similar but we are effectively starting from scratch.
“It was a jigsaw to put together but we have the basis of a car now.”
The VJM10 may not win the beauty contest but lets hope the new racer is competitive in the upcoming world championship.
News stories on the VJM10:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/2/force-india-reveal-their-2017-f1-car.html
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/force-india-reveals-its-2017-f1-challenger-875916/?r=173784&em=1
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gallery-force-india-vjm10-in-full-detail-875978/?r=173784&em=1
http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/10743554/force-india-launch-vjm10-for-teams-10th-formula-1-season-in-2017
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/02/22/pictures-force-india-launch-tenth-f1-car-at-silverstone/
Force India launch VJM10 for team’s 10th Formula 1 season in 2017. As reported by SkySportsF1.
“I expect a very big year for the team,” says Sergio Perez; Boss Mallya targets third place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Force India have unveiled their new car, the VJM10, for 2017 as they aim to build on their most successful season of Formula 1 from last year.
Sergio Perez and new team-mate Esteban Ocon pulled the wraps off the Mercedes-powered car at Silverstone, the circuit located opposite Force India’s factory.
“I trust totally this team. I expect a very big year for the team,” said Perez.
The new season is the team’s 10th under the ownership of Vijay Mallya with 2016’s fourth-placed Constructors’ Championship finish the best in Force India’s history.
Considered to be the best ‘pound-for-pound’ outfit in F1, Force India are aiming to continue their progress in the first year of the sport’s new aero design rules with boss Mallya targeting a top-three finish this year.
“We are dreaming big but we’re going to give it all we’ve got,” Mallya vowed. “All the data shows this is a cracker of a car.”
Having enjoyed almost year-on-year progress up the grid over the last decade, Force India finished ahead of former champions Williams and McLaren last season with Perez delivering podiums in Monaco and Azerbaijan.