Force India aims for fifth in 2013

Force India will not be satisfied if it starts the season with anything less than the fifth quickest car in the field in 2013.
 
The Silverstone-based squad endured a slow start to this year but became one of the strongest outfits towards the end, with Nico Hulkenberg fighting for victory in the last race in Brazil.

Deputy team principal Bob Fernley reckons his squad's momentum can be kept going into 2013, when he is optimistic Force India can hit the ground running.
"We have to be very encouraged by the second half of the season," Fernley told AUTOSPORT. "The regulations are stable going into 2013.

"So apart from the development work you're going to do over the winter, fundamentally where you've finished now is where you start in March.

"So we have to be to be encouraged, it's a strong package.

"Can we learn something? We've had two seasons where we've been slow out of the box.

"It's caught us out. Hopefully in 2013 that won't be the case."

Although Force India finished seventh in the constructors' championship behind Mercedes and Sauber, Fernley said the team should not be aiming for any lower than fifth in 2013.

"If you look at the stats, since the summer break, Force India's the fifth best performing team and Vijay [Mallya] will expect us to start there, it's as simple as that," he added.

"Mercedes obviously have a lot of work to do. They have Lewis [Hamilton] going there, so that's going to be a renewed enthusiasm for what they're doing.

"They're a force to be reckoned with, but they've got to overcome the back of this season.

"From our point of view we've been strong at the end of this season and we want to carry that through to next year."

Force India announced it will unveil its 2013 car on 1 February.

Source: Autosport.com

Force India confirms 2013 launch date

Force India has become the first team to confirm the launch date of its new car - as the outfit plans to unveil its 2013 challenger on 1 February.

The Silverstone-based team, which ended its season on a high as Nico Hulkenberg challenged for victory in Brazil, plans to unveil its Mercedes-powered VJM06 at its home circuit.

Although the outfit has not confirmed either of its drivers for 2013, Paul di Resta is expected to remain on board for a third season.

With Hulkenberg switching to Sauber, the team is weighing up a number of drivers to line up alongside di Resta - including Adrian Sutil, Sebastien Buemi, and Jaime Alguersuari.

Formula 1's first official pre-season test of 2013 will take place at Jerez from 5 February.

Source: Autosport.com

Who could Force India plump for?

 

With Nico Hulkenberg's departure for Sauber confirmed, it leaves a very desirable midfield seat on the 2013 grid vacant. Sky Sports F1 Online assesses Vijay Mallya's options...

Paul di Resta is likely to be retained by Force India, but who could be his team-mate? We cast our eye over some of the contenders:

Jules Bianchi

The Frenchman could be a contender for a race seat at Force India, or elsewhere in F1 in general, after narrowly missing out on the Formula Renault 3.5 title this year. He retired from the season finale after a clash with eventual Champion Robin Frijns.

The 23-year-old is a member of Ferrari's Driver Academy and was appointed Force India reserve driver in 2012. He made an immediate impact - but not in a good way - with a crash during pre-season testing, limiting Force India's running in Jerez. He has redeemed himself somewhat since then and caught the eye in the Young Drivers' test at Magny-Cours in September, 

topping the times in both the VJM05 and Ferrari F2012. His Friday practice performances have not been particularly outstanding, but his form in World Series could keep him in contention and ensure that for the third straight season Force India promotes from within.
Speaking to French Eurosport in recent days, he appeared to certainly fancy his chances of making the 2013 grid: "I think next year is my best chance (of getting a race seat). We are working hard. With some good luck - in particular if one of the two drivers leaves Force India - we must continue in this direction."

Adrian Sutil

Sutil has a long history with the Silverstone-based team having driven for them in various guises since 2006 - when he joined as Midland F1's test driver, before graduating to a race seat in 2007 when the team became Spyker.
The German's exit from the team last winter was somewhat controversial with some speculation as to the impact his charge of GBH, for which he was later found guilty of and handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence for, had on the team's decision to replace him with Hulkenberg.
Clearly, though, the 29-year-old remains on good terms with the team and has been a regular in their hospitality unit at races this season. Indeed, Vijay Mallya admitted this week that he would strongly consider re-hiring Sutil should Hulkenberg leave.

Jaime Alguersuari

The youngest driver in F1 history has been making positive noises in recent weeks about a race seat in 2013, telling his Twitter followers: "Soon you will all know where I will be driving next year."

The 22-year-old was dropped after two-and-a-half seasons with Toro Rosso as the Red Bull junior team opted for a complete overhaul of their line-up for 2012.
Since then, he has taken on the role of Pirelli test driver and his knowledge of the 2013 tyres could be crucial in helping a midfield team get the edge on their competition.

Sebastien Buemi

Buemi was the other driver to be released by Toro Rosso at the end of the 2011, but has stayed within the Red Bull stable, acting as test driver for the senior team.
Alongside his testing and demonstration duties in 2012, the Swiss driver competed at the 24 Hours du Mans for Toyota, sharing a car with Sky Sports F1 pundit Anthony Davidson.
The 23-year-old's junior career was unspectacular with second in the 2007 F3 Euroseries the only highlight, and he remains an outsider for the seat.

Heikki Kovalainen

The Finn has impressed many in the paddock with the job he has done at Caterham, re-establishing some of the creditability he arguably lost during two uninspired years at McLaren.
Kovalainen is out of contract at the end of the current season and has publicly admitted he was looking around for other drives in F1, with even his position at Caterham not looking completely certain. But looking good in an uncompetitive car is one thing and you have to wonder how fresh in the minds of Team Principals' his stint at McLaren remains, the final year of which saw him finish a lowly 12th in the Drivers' Championship.
Looking back on his career - he won the World Series title in 2004 and finished second in the inaugural GP2 Series - the 31-year-old clearly has pace, however, he remains an outsider, with younger drivers with better funding a potentially more attractive proposition.

Source: Motortweets.com

Force India: Hulkenberg move ill-timed

Force India believes Nico Hulkenberg will miss the chance to realise the team's potential after leaving to join Sauber for 2013.
 
The German driver confirmed in October that he will race with Sauber next season after two years with the Silverstone-based squad.

Force India finished behind Sauber in this year's standings, but it outscored the Swiss squad in the final part of the year.

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley reckons Hulkenberg's departure comes at an inopportune moment for the German given the team's form over the season run-in.

"I think so," Fernley told AUTOSPORT when asked if Hulkenberg would miss Force India's potential. 

"If you look at the stats since the summer break, the Force India car was clearly the fifth best performing. 

"We're still quite a distance off the top four, but since the summer break we've forged ahead of all the others."

Fernley admitted, however, that Force India was sorry to see the German driver leave.

"We're very sad to see Nico go," he said. "He's been a great asset to the team. We've enjoyed having him around and it's a loss to us. There's no question that we're sad he's leaving."

Force India will keep Paul di Resta for 2013, with the Scot's partner yet to be named.

Di Resta struggled to match the performance of Hulkenberg in the second half of the season, but Fernley denied the reason for that was that he was focused on trying to secure a drive elsewhere.

"No, I don't think so," Fernley added. "Up to Singapore, Paul had dominated and Nico was feeling down. Since Singapore it went the other way around. 

That's how it's gone with them all season, they're so close.

"It's hard to judge. You get those runs. He's just got to dust himself down and get ready for the new season."

Source: Autosport.com

Force India to announce driver this week

Force India is set to announce the identity of Paul di Resta's 2013 teammate. 

The Indian news service IANS said that although the official announcement has been delayed, the Vijay Mallya-led team is finally almost ready now to make the call. 

"The announcement should take place next week," a 'top source' at the Silverstone based team was quoted saying late last week. 

"Adrian (Sutil) looks the best bet to partner di Resta as he has got the required experience in formula one. At the same time, Mr Mallya also considered all other available options," the unnamed source added. 

It is believed the others under consideration are Kamui Kobayashi, who has been raising funds through a fan website, and the sponsored Brazilian Bruno Senna. 

The source said Force India's Ferrari-linked 2012 reserve driver Jules Bianchi is not experienced enough to seriously compete with German Sutil for the seat. 

As for Force India's existing 2012 driver di Resta, the source commented: "He was always expected to carry on. He has delivered so far and it makes sense to retain him." 

Source : http://www.worldcarfans.com/

Force India seeking talent, not money

Force India says speed rather than money will be the deciding factor in who lines up alongside Paul di Resta next year.
 
The Silverstone-based team is expected to confirm its 2013 driver line-up in the next few weeks, with a host of names having been linked with the outfit.
Although Paul di Resta is understood to be certain to retain his drive, the identity of his team-mate is not yet clear, with Sebastien Buemi, Adrian Sutil, Bruno Senna and Kamui Kobayashi having been linked with it.

Force India chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer thinks it vital that the outfit finds a quick replacement for the departing Nico Hulkenberg, because that will ensure it gets the best out of di Resta too.

"I am a believer that you need someone like that," he told AUTOSPORT. "Not everyone does, and it is a subconscious thing.

"You think you are driving the best you can, but there is nothing like competition for us humans to really sharpen our focus, attention and skills in all sort of stuff. 

"If you have competition you end up driving yourself more."

Force India is expected to announce its line-up at its Christmas party, which takes place in the middle of December.

"We will announce everything in a couple of weeks," said Szafnauer. "We have a pretty short list of candidates now."

Source: Autosport.com
 

Brazil Race - Force India driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg (5th)
“That was a lot of fun - very entertaining and there was so much happening all the time! We had a great chance to finish on the podium today, but it slipped away, which is a shame. In the early laps it was difficult to keep the car on the track in the very damp conditions, but it was not really wet enough for intermediates and I stuck with the slicks. It was the right decision and soon I was leading the race. I felt comfortable but eventually I made a small mistake and Lewis got ahead of me. I managed to stay with him and was fighting to get the lead back when we touched. It’s hard to say what happened but I was making a move going into turn one and had a slightly loose rear. I was about to turn in and suddenly there was contact. It’s a shame for both of us because we were having a great battle. I managed to keep going but I had lost a lot of time. Fifth place is still a super result to end the season and I think the team did an excellent job this weekend. I hope they enjoyed the race - it’s a nice leaving present in my last race.”

Paul di Resta (19th)
“It was a very tricky race and not easy to make the calls with the weather constantly changing. Ultimately we made the wrong decision to switch to the intermediates in the early stages because the track began to dry quite soon after my stop. The tyres lost performance quickly and I went back to the slicks just before the safety car came out. That brought us back into play, but I struggled for grip at the restart and lost a few places. When we went back to the intermediates in the closing stages we were more competitive and I was up in eighth place. Unfortunately with a lap to go I aquaplaned in the final corner. It was a big hit with the wall, but I’m okay.”

Robert Fernley, Force India deputy team principal
“What a race! Certainly one of the most exciting races I’ve seen with drama on every lap. For a while it looked like we were heading for a fairly-tale result with Nico leading for so much of the race and showing his skill in the tricky conditions. We had a great car today and had the pace to win, but it was not meant to be. I would question the deployment of the first safety car, which we believe could have been covered under waved yellows. Equally, we were surprised by the drive-through for Nico, and feel it could have been investigated after the race because there were three cars involved. With Paul we played a slightly different strategy with an early switch to the intermediate tyres, as most teams did, but when the rain eased off he went back to slicks. He was looking set for points until the crash towards the end, but it’s a relief to see him get out of the car OK. So we end the season on a positive note and head into the winter optimistic that we can start next year just as well. On behalf of the team I’d like to say goodbye to Nico and thank him for his contribution to our campaign this season. It has been a pleasure to have him drive our cars.”

Source: F1.com 

Di Resta says one-stop races hurt F1

Paul di Resta believes Formula 1's recent one-stop races have sold the sport short.
 
A combination of forgiving track surfaces and conservative tyre choices at the last few events meant drivers experienced little in the way of tyre degradation, 

This has enabled them to go deeper into races before undertaking their mandatory pitstops - a stark contrast to the earlier rounds of the season.
Force India driver di Resta is concerned that these comparatively dull races could be detrimental to the sport.

"These one-stop races are not reaching the 'full picture' at the moment," he said.

"There's elements where you're not really compromising on set-up. That's where a little less excitement has come out of it.

"I thought Abu Dhabi was a good race, but only because the safety car came into the equation. But before that, these races were high deg and different strategies."

Even with its non-abrasive track surface, the United States Grand Prix delivered plenty of overtaking, despite the majority of the field adopting a one-stop strategy.

Di Resta, however, suggests that the race would have been even more enthralling if drivers were encouraged to pit more often through higher tyre wear.

"How much better would it have been with more pitstops?" he pondered.
"What you want is cars on the edge, cars that have to go a different way to qualifying in the race and let it unfold to the public and let them enjoy it."
Pirelli plans to alter its dry weather tyres for 2013, with a view of spicing up the racing action.

Source: Autosport.com

Friday practice - Force India driver quotes

Force India
Paul di Resta, P1 - 1:14.738, 8th; P2- 1:15.129, 10th
“I think we can feel quite positive about today. It was all pretty straightforward and the data looks quite encouraging. The hot conditions were tricky for everyone and the car was moving around quite a bit, but we’ve ended the day with a pretty sorted car that is working well in the low and high speed parts of the lap. I’m certainly feeling more confident with the car compared to recent races and I think we are looking reasonably competitive here.”

Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:15.050, 10th; P2 - 1:15.131, 11th
“You certainly felt the heat today and the car was quite loose and difficult to drive at times. Apart from that it was business as usual – doing the long runs and getting the tyre data. We also had an extra set of the 2013 tyres available this morning so it was interesting to get a taste for them and do a direct comparison with this year’s tyres. It’s difficult to judge where we stand at the moment, but we have all the information we need, so it’s just a case of trying to understand things more tonight to be ready for tomorrow.”

Jakob Andreasen, Force India chief engineer
“Two productive practice sessions today have left us well prepared going into the weekend. There were some aero test items on the cars this morning and we also had a chance to sample the 2013 development tyres. That proved extremely valuable and we made the most of the opportunity to try and get a head-start on next year. In the afternoon the temperatures continued to rise, with the track reaching a high of 55°C - one of the highest peaks we have seen all year - and the drivers said the car was sliding around quite a lot, as you would expect in such conditions. More warm weather is forecast for tomorrow, unless the rain arrives, and there is also a high risk of rain on Sunday.”

Source: F1.com 
 

Brazil preview quotes - Force India

Paul di Resta, Force India
2011 Qualifying - 11th, 2011 Race - 8th
“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. 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.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“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.”

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
“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.”

Source: F1.com

Force India set for £50 million boost

Force India has been given a boost ahead of the 2013 season with the news of the approval of a £50 million investment programme.
 
Team boss Vijay Mallya said the squad's board met in India after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and approved the programme, which will mean Force India will invest heavily in new technology to boost the design team for the coming seasons.

Force India looks set to finish the 2012 season in seventh position in the constructors' championship, having scored 99 points ahead of the final race in Brazil.

Mallya believes his team has a lot of reasons to be proud about its achievements this year, especially considering some of the equipment it is using to design its car is from the era when the outfit was known as Jordan.

"Looking back at the season so far, we have every reason to feel proud," he said.

"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."

Source: Autosport.com

USGP Race - Force India Driver Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg (8th)
“Another tough race but very satisfying to have so many good battles and score another four points. I think we squeezed the maximum from the car and should be pleased with what we achieved. For the first few laps we looked very strong, but after lap ten the tyres started to fade away. When we switched to the hard tyres we were not so competitive so it was just a case of pushing hard to stay in the points. The last few laps were not easy because I was getting massive pressure from the Williams pair, who were very quick through sector one. They had the advantage of DRS and it was not easy to keep them behind me. There was quite a bit of fighting but I managed to stay ahead.”

Paul di Resta (15th)
“I made a good start and for the first few laps we were in quite a strong position and moving forward with good lap times. Maybe we waited too long before pitting because I became vulnerable to Senna after my stop and was struggling on cold tyres with tyre warm-up. I couldn’t keep Senna behind me and then I had the same situation with Maldonado. I was fighting a lot of oversteer in the car and made an error in Turn 19, lost the rear, and spun. I was just trying a bit too hard to keep the cars behind me. That gave me some flat spots on my tyres so I had to pit for a second time. From there it was difficult to fight back because it was a clear one-stop race.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
“Today’s race was a brilliant showcase for Formula One and the perfect way to kick off the sport’s return to America. We saw some great racing and the track looked spectacular. Nico was back in the points again and drove very well to finish eighth. For the final part of the race he came under heavy pressure from Senna and Maldonado, but he didn’t make any mistakes and kept them at bay. Williams are close competitors in the championship so it was important to outscore them here. Paul’s race looked promising in the early stages, but tyre issues and a spin cost him dearly and ruled out any chance of points. With the season coming to a close we will look to continue our run of points-scoring finishes in Sao Paulo and hopefully end the season on a high note next weekend.”

Source: F1.com 

USGP Qualifying - Force India driver quotes

Force India
Nico Hulkenberg (8th, Q3 - 1m 37.141s)
“I’m happy to get another top ten result and it’s been a good effort by the whole team, especially given where we were yesterday evening. My lap in Q3 was not too bad, but I was a little compromised by a Williams in the last couple of corners, so maybe there was a little bit more to come. Generally I’m quite happy and confident we can race strongly because our long-run pace looked competitive yesterday. There are lots of unknowns about tomorrow because there is no data from the past to help us, but we’re in good shape and I’m really enjoying driving at this new track.”

Paul di Resta (13th, Q2 -1m 37.665s)
“It has been a difficult weekend so far and I’m still struggling to get the tyres working. I have quite a smooth driving style so maybe that’s why I haven’t been able to switch them on as well as Nico, who has a more aggressive approach. The good news is that P13 is on the cleaner side of the grid so that should help me maximise the start. It’s a long race but I’m not really sure what to expect tomorrow. The car is not quite where I want it to be so I just need to make the best of it and hope we can use the strategy to help us move forward.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
“The Circuit of The Americas is a spectacular venue for motor racing and it was great to see so many fans here to watch today’s qualifying session. It’s not been the easiest of weekends for us in terms of setting up the car and getting the tyres to work, but the changes overnight certainly improved the situation and we looked more competitive in final practice. By the time of the qualifying session, Nico was feeling a lot more confident and managed to make Q3 once again. With a grid penalty for Grosjean, we expect Nico to start from seventh. Paul has been struggling more with the tyres, but he’s certainly in the mix for the race and will continue to fight. The priority tomorrow is to pick up points and strengthen our position in the championship.”

Source: F1.com

USGP Friday practice quotes : ForceIndia

Force India
Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:41.023, 7th; P2 - 1:40.700, 17th
“I think the organisers have given us an awesome circuit. It’s good fun to drive and there is a nice variation of corners, which gives a nice rhythm to the track. In terms of the new generation of tracks, I’d say it’s one of my favourites. The day was pretty smooth and we had to make sure we collected lots of data because we don’t have any historic information to draw upon. We looked competitive this morning and seemed to struggle more in the afternoon, so we need to try and find some more grip overnight.”

Paul di Resta, P2 - 1:41.783, 11th; P2 - 1:41.430, 18th
“I said yesterday that getting the tyres working was going to be difficult - and so it proved today. The track surface is very smooth and the temperatures were not especially high, which probably didn’t help us. We’ve identified some issues and haven’t found the best direction with the set-up yet, so we need to work hard to make the car easier to drive. In terms of the layout of the track it’s very open and there are some nice corners, especially the first sector which has a great flow. A lot of the corners are off-camber, which also adds another challenge.”

Jakob Andreasen, Force India chief engineer
“It hasn’t been the easiest day of practice for us and we need to work hard tonight to make the car perform better on this challenging circuit. We struggled in the first session with low grip - just as everyone did - but we didn’t find much improvement in the afternoon session. The layout here is a bit like Suzuka with a mix of high and low-speed corners, but it’s fair to say we haven’t found the right compromise with the set-up to cope with these two extremes. On the positive side our long run performance looked quite encouraging and when we go over the data tonight I’m sure we will find the clues to help us make the right decisions with the set-up going into tomorrow.

Source: F1.com 

United States preview quotes Force India

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
“I’ve not spent a lot of time in America so I’m looking forward to being there and seeing some of the country. I’ve visited New York before, but that’s as much as I’ve done. I love the people and the culture so I’m sure it will be a fun week. We arrive on Tuesday so that gives us a couple of days to explore Austin before we go to the track.

“I’ve driven the lap on a simulator so I’ve got the layout in my head. It’s pretty much an average medium-speed track with a lot of elevation changes. Turns three to six are high speed with lots of change of direction - a bit like Maggotts and Becketts at Silverstone. There are some big stops and some low-speed sections towards the end of the lap too. So pretty much a bit of everything.”

Paul di Resta, Force India
“I’ve not done a massive amount [of preparation], to be honest. I’ve seen some maps of the circuit, but the main preparation will come from my simulator session on the Monday of race week. So I’ll arrive in America with it fresh in my mind.”

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
“The United States is such an important market for the teams and the brands associated with the sport so it’s a very welcome return to the calendar. It will be the first time Sahara Force India has raced on American soil and the whole team is excited to be going there. Visiting a new venue always presents us with new challenges, but from what I’ve heard we can expect a first class facility. As for the city, Austin is a friendly place with good hospitality and I’m sure we will receive a very warm welcome.”

Source: Formula1.com

Force India: No rush to sort 2013 line-up

Force India boss Vijay Mallya says his team is in no hurry to confirm its driver line-up for the 2013 season.
 
The Silverstone-based outfit will lose Nico Hulkenberg to Sauber for next year, but is expected to retain Paul di Resta. 

Several drivers have been named as possible team-mates to the Scot, including Jaime Alguersuari, Kamui Kobayashi, Jules Bianchi, Adrian Sutil, Luiz Razia, Charles Pic and Bruno Senna. 

Mallya insisted however that the team will continue with its policy of announcing drivers after the end of the season.

"We have traditionally waited until the end of the season to confirm our line-up and I expect we will stick to this schedule," said Mallya. 

"With the state of the driver market at the moment there is no rush to make an announcement. 

"We have a shortlist and will take our time to make sure we have the fastest drivers available in our cars next season."

Di Resta said recently that he did not care about who will partner him next year.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't mind. It is not my decision and it is not something that I should be concerned about," he explained.

"I am employed to do a job and deliver on track. Whatever their decision will be, will be.

"I feel I probably could deal with having a rookie in the team, and equally deal with someone being competitive in the team."

Source : Autosport.com

Force India wants no driver animosity

Force India wants to ensure that no animosity lingers between team-mates Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta after their first-lap collision in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
 
The two cars came together with each other and Sergio Perez's Sauber on the run to Turn 1 at the start of Sunday's race.

Di Resta had to pit with a puncture, while Hulkenberg sustained race-ending suspension damage as he collected Bruno Senna's Williams in the aftermath.
The squad's deputy team principal Bob Fernley said Hulkenberg and di Resta knew they had committed the "ultimate sin" and now had to move on.

"The thing to do is to find out what happened, who squeezed what where, shake hands and make sure it doesn't happen again," Fernley told AUTOSPORT.

"From a team point of view it's obviously the ultimate sin to have contact with your own team-mate.

"It's happened, we'll put it behind us, and there should be no animosity, that's the key thing.

"It's one of those things. We won't be the first team and we won't be the last team that happens to.

"But it's obviously regrettable because I think we could've had a reasonable race with both cars, whereas I suppose we have to be reasonably pleased we've recovered anything at all from that."

Di Resta came back through the field to finish ninth, and said he had no idea how the accident unfolded.

"I'm not sure what happened into the first corner," he said.

"I had a really good launch, got past Nico, and realised I had a puncture."
Hulkenberg reckoned things began to go wrong with a slow getaway and that he then had nowhere to go.

"I think I just had quite a bad start, quite bad run to Turn 1 and got sandwiched by Paul on the outside and went halfway between the cars and then there was contact," he said.

Source: Autosport.com

Abudhabi GP - Force India Drivers quotes

Force India
Paul di Resta (9th)
“Quite a hectic race for me but I’m happy to come away with some points considering the way the race unfolded. I’m not sure what happened going into turn one because I had a great launch and moved ahead of Nico, but on the exit of the corner I realised immediately that I had a puncture. That cost me a lot of ground, but the first safety car brought me back into play. We were going to try and run to the finish without stopping again and I was up to fifth place, but when the safety car came out for a second time the team called me in for fresh tyres. In the final stages our pace was strong and I moved ahead of the Toro Rossos, but I just could not get ahead of Senna. He was in the DRS zone of Massa and I just could not make the move so I had to settle for ninth.”

Nico Hulkenberg (DNF)
“I made quite a bad start and had a poor run going into the first corner. Then I just got sandwiched by the cars around me go. I think there was my teammate, a Sauber and a Williams around me, and there was not enough space. I tried to back out of it, but it was too late. There was contact between the cars and that was my race over.”

Robert Fernley, Force India deputy team principal
“A dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that served up plenty of incidents. Nico was out of luck at the start and it looked like a typical opening lap incident with too many cars and not enough space. Paul was also caught up in that and picked up a right rear puncture, dropping him to the back of the field. From there it was a case of damage limitation and Paul delivered the perfect recovery drive to pick up a couple of points. He battled hard and was unlucky not to finish higher up the order. In terms of our fight in the constructors’ championship, our two main rivals, Sauber and Williams, both scored well today. Sauber are 29 ahead and we have 22 points advantage over Williams. It’s clear the battle will go down to the wire but we will continue fighting until the last lap in Brazil.”

Source: F1.com
 

Paul di Resta gets new Force India chassis

Paul di Resta has switched to a new chassis in Abu Dhabi in a bid to move on from the 'fundamental' issue which had blighted his last few races.

The Scot had previously told reporters that he was hopeful the issue had been solved.

AUTOSPORT has learned he has switched to a new chassis, the first time he has done so this season.

Despite the switch, di Resta admitted there were still problems for him to overcome, namely making up the time lost when third driver Jules Bianchi took the reigns in first practice.

"We're not as concerned as we were - I think we have sorted it," di Resta confirmed in relation to his previous issue.

"We're still trying to catch up though. It was quite a difficult day [with having] to miss a session, and it's very tricky to get the car in the right working window.

"We're a bit behind where I'd like to be yeah, but not concernedly so because I think its better to have that going in to tomorrow.

"In terms of the session we got through everything we had to achieve in the outline, so now we can sit down and really get into then nitty gritty of it ahead of tomorrow."

Di Resta stressed the importance of getting the tyres into the right operating window, saying unlocking Pirelli's rubber would be fundamental to a strong weekend.

"We're going to need a step tomorrow morning for Q3 - our immediate competitors seem quite quick, and certainly Williams looks strong," he said.

"I think there is a very narrow [tyre] window, and if you can get yourself in it you can go. I'm reserved at the moment because I have only done one session, and we know we have work to do.

"The car is moving about a lot here and they have changed the kerbs quite a lot so I think it is quite a different approach.

"Every session I went out I got better and by the long run it seemed to be a good step better again.

"The guys already have things written down to change it, and I think with overnight changes we should have a further benefit."

Source: Autosport.com

Friday practice - Force India driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:45.587, 12th; P2 - 1:43.255, 13th
“I think it’s still difficult to know where our performance level is right now, but we probably need to raise our game and improve a bit overnight if we want to challenge for points. The balance is not perfect just yet so we need to work tonight to get the car closer to the sweet spot. Apart from that we got through the programme, collected all the tyre data and so it was a fairly normal Friday.”

Paul di Resta, P2- 1:43.578, 15th
“I think we learned quite a lot this evening, but there’s a lot of work ahead of us to understand where we stand and where we can improve. This track is all about grip in the low and medium speed corners and that’s where we need to focus tonight. In terms of tyres we collected a lot of data today so we will be working hard to make sure we get them in the right operating window for qualifying and the race.”

Jules Bianchi, P1 - 1:45.769, 15th
“It think this was probably my best free practice session so far. I’ve done lots of testing here before so I know the track really well and felt very comfortable. The programme was quite simple with three runs, lots of laps and we improved the car with each run. The track improved a lot during the session, but the tyres went off quite quickly so it was difficult to improve my times at the end of the session.”

Robert Fernley, Force India deputy team principal
“A pretty solid day of practice with all three drivers working together well and getting through the programme. Jules was in the car for FP1 and he did exactly what we needed and delivered consistent lap times. As usual we had some test items to evaluate, which we did with Nico, before focussing on tyres and longer runs in the afternoon. It was an important session for Paul, who has not felt totally comfortable with the car in the last few races. We’ve tried our best to address his concerns so hopefully those issues are behind us with the chassis change.” 

Source: F1.com

Force India rules out Karthikeyan for a race seat

Force India has slammed the door shut on Narain Karthikeyan questioning the Indian driver’s abilities to race with a competitive team.

Lewis Hamilton stated at the Indian Grand Prix that it was unfortunate that Karthikeyan was “driving a slow car” suggesting that it would do wonders if he raced with a mid-field team like Force India.

"I am a Brit driving for a British team in a British car and it has done wonders for us so I hope it would be the same for him and India," reckoned the McLaren driver.

Even Pedro de la Rosa believed that Karthikeyan was “terribly underrated” but Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley ruled out any possibility of the 35-year-old stepping up into the squad, despite the suggestions.

“But with all due respect to Narain, can he compete with and outperform our drivers?” Fernley told AFP. “It is not his fault because he's not had the opportunity that our drivers have had.”

"Now we have a dedicated team of professionals. We have the best drivers that we can afford and who push the car to its limits. Teams can't develop if you have drivers with limitations," Fernley explained.

"We have an academy which is involved in spotting raw and young talent. The whole process could take five to six years because these are 14-16 year old boys. We are trying to provide them the right platform," he pointed out.
Karthikeyan, who de la Rosa reckoned had “a few more seasons of F1 left in him,” is hoping to continue with HRT next year.

Source: F1pulse.com
 

Abu Dhabi preview quotes - Force India

2011 Qualifying - 10th, 2011 Race - 9th
“The whole team has been working hard to try and understand the issues we had in India. We’ve seen some things in the data so hopefully we can get on top of them and back up to speed right from the start of practice on Friday. It’s a very technical circuit with a lot of tight, low-speed corners and you need to be very precise with the car. There’s very little high-speed stuff, apart from the esses after turn one, but they are taken pretty much flat anyway. There are definitely some similarities with Singapore in terms of the number of low-speed corners.

“Abu Dhabi is a crucial weekend for us. The car was quite strong there last year so there’s every reason to believe that will carry over into this year. Also, it’s the sort of track that has suited us this year so hopefully we can maximise things and get both cars in the points. If we want to get close to Sauber that’s what we need to do. We need to make sure we have a strong run through until the end of the year.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“I think Abu Dhabi should suit us a bit more than India. It’s a twisty circuit with more low-speed corners and it’s a bit more like Singapore, where we looked quite competitive. So I’m optimistic going there.”

Source: F1.com

Hulkenberg wrong to leave - di Resta

Paul di Resta believes Nico Hulkenberg would have been better off staying at Force India rather than leaving to drive for Sauber.

After weeks of speculation about his future, Hulkenberg was confirmed as a Sauber driver for the 2013 season on Wednesday.

Force India team-mate di Resta admitted he was surprised by Hulkenberg's decision, as he doubts Sauber is a step up from his current team.

"I was surprised that Nico left this team, to be fair, for an immediate competitor," said di Resta in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

"I don't see it as being a step up, to be perfectly honest. I see it as an equal kind of status.

"Long term where you see this team is going, I think it is probably better [at Force India]."

Although Sauber is ahead of Force India in the standings this year, di Resta feels his team has been more consistent in its performances over past seasons.

"They [Sauber] have had a couple of remarkable results, and I am not going to deny that. But in terms of consistency, we have got a lot. It may be different.

"Next year may be different, and I don't know the full reasons why Nico has gone there."

Although the Scot admitted recently that he was disappointed he had not been picked by a top team for next season, he said he was happy to stay at Force India, which he reckons it is still growing.

"There is progression, and the way this team is structured and going forward, I am content where I am."

AUTOSPORT says...
By AUTOSPORT F1 editor Edd Straw
While Nico Hulkenberg's move from Force India to Sauber, which is just one place higher in the constructors' championship, appears superficially to be a sideways one, it would have been a far easier decision to make than he suggests, despite Paul di Resta's scepticism.

For a start, Sauber is a more 'complete' team with a better-equipped factory. That means that its ultimate potential is greater than Force India's, even though the Silverstone-based team is continually developing better facilities.

Then there's the fact that Sauber has gradually been on an impressive upward curve since BMW's pull-out. But for Sergio Perez's mistake late in the Malaysian Grand Prix, it would have a win to its name this year.

Then there's the Ferrari factor. Despite missing out on a possible switch either to the Scuderia or McLaren, Hulkenberg knows that he still has a long-term future with a top team.

Ferrari's influence at Sauber will mean that it can monitor his progress very closely, while the prospect of fighting for podiums, rather than the odd fourth, fifth or sixth place at Force India, means that he can show his ability to other top teams as well.

Hulkenberg knows how good he is and by moving to Sauber, he has probably taken one step sideways to go two or three forward in the long run.

Source: Autosport.com

Di Resta: Fundamental car issue solved

Paul di Resta is hopeful he and his Force India team have solved the issues that have hindered the Scot in the last few races.
 
Di Resta has failed to score a point since the Singapore Grand Prix and has been overshadowed by the performances of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who has been in the points in Japan, Korea and India.

Di Resta admitted a "fundamental" problem with his car has been hindering his form.

"I think there is one fundamental thing that we have picked up on and after the last races it has been getting progressively worse and worse, but I don't think it has been that easy to identify what it has been," di Resta told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"We hope that we have resolved the issues by taking action for this grand prix."

Although the Scot refused to go into details about the problem, he said the team had identified it before the Indian GP last Sunday.

"I am not saying what it is, but as I said in India, we picked up on it on Saturday night, which was probably not the best time because you kind of knew the race was going to be difficult," he added.

"So for probably one of the best races I have ever driven in India, personally getting what I could out of the car, it was not rewarding enough.

"But I left India far more satisfied than I left Korea, and I think that is a fundamental thing relative to what they have looked at.

"I think since then everybody within the factory and within this team has investigated further and picked up on a few other things and I think going into this event certainly tomorrow is crucial and I think you will see it after the first run that it has made a difference."

He added: "There is definitely something that we have highlighted and as I said, having the team looking at it in more depth, we have found a few more things. At the end of the day, I am sure they understood how difficult my race was in India and through nothing other than this thing."

Source: Autosport.com
 

Hulkenberg: Team switch tough choice

Nico Hulkenberg admits it was not an easy decision to leave Force India to join rival Sauber for the 2013 Formula 1 season.

The Hinwil squad confirmed on Wednesday that the 25-year-old German will join its line-up after two years with Force India, the first as a reserve driver.
Sauber is enjoying its strongest season to date, having been on the podium four times in 17 races, while Force India is yet to finish in the top three this year.

The Silverstone-based outfit has, however, outscored Sauber since the summer break, scoring 47 points to the Swiss team's 36.

"It wasn't an easy decision, first of all," Hulkenberg told reporters in Abu Dhabi. "I think Sauber made a good development the last couple of years, especially this year.

"They have been very strong this year for podiums, missed the win by a very narrow margin only, so that is why. Otherwise I would not have made the decision if I thought it wasn't the right one.

"Obviously Sauber has a good car this year and hopefully it has a good car next year where we can fight for good positions."

Force India is still aiming to beat Sauber in the constructors' championship, where it trails its rival by 23 points.

Hulkenberg says that as long as he is a Force India driver he will have no qualms in giving it all to beat his future team.

"It is not different to before, to be honest," he added. "I am fully committed to Force India, we have three more races to go. And I look forward to the new challenge, the new contract but also I look forward to doing the last few races here. I am fully motivated and will give everything."

The German, who has linked with Felipe Massa's seat at Ferrari before the Brazilian got a contract extension, denied that he had any links to the Italian squad as part of the deal with Sauber, which uses Ferrari engines.

He admitted, however, that he had discussion with the Maranello team.
"There were talks and there was some contact," he said.

Source: Autosport.com

Mallya: Hulkenberg a star of the future

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya has labelled the departing Nico Hulkenberg as a 'star of the future'.
 
The 25-year-old will move to Sauber for the 2013 F1 season, having so far scored 49 points in 17 races for Mallya's outfit.

Having previously insisted he would not stand in the way if big teams swooped for either Hulkenberg or Paul di Resta, Mallya said he could take satisfaction from the German's development during his time with Force India.

"At the end of 2010 we identified Nico as a star of the future and it has been rewarding to watch him develop his racing skills," Mallya said.

"Together with Paul he has done a brilliant job for us, helping the team score more points than ever before and giving 100 per cent commitment every weekend.

"It has been a pleasure to have Nico with us for the last couple of years, and we would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish him well for the future."

Mallya also insisted Hulkenberg's impending switch would not derail Force India's form over the final three races, nor its bid to haul in Sauber in the constructors' standings - an objective Mallya concedes is becoming increasingly difficult.

"With three races remaining this season, we know Nico will remain totally committed and continue to deliver his best performances for the team," he said.

"We have 93 points in the bag, but we are still 23 short of Sauber. It's a big task to catch them, but anything can happen.

"We've finished fourth twice and we were very close to a podium in both of those races.

"I think that in terms of competitive performance we've come a long way and we are a genuine Q3 contender.

"If we get a bit of luck in the last three races we might be able to make it up. 23 points is not uncatchable."

Source: Autosport.com

Mallya considers Sutil for 2013

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya says he will consider Adrian Sutil as a race driver in 2013 if Nico Hulkenberg leaves for Sauber at the end of the year.

Hulkenberg is thought to have signed a deal with Sauber for next season, but neither team nor driver has confirmed the news. Mallya revealed to Reuters in India that Hulkenberg has been offered a contract by Force India, but said his team would not stand in the German's way if he wants to leave. 

"I offered an extension to both drivers," Mallya said. "I hear from the media that Nico has signed with Sauber. Well, if he has then good luck to him. 

"I have not been officially notified by Nico of anything. He hasn't sat down with me and told me that. I would expect that he would if he was on his way...I have an excellent relationship with him, he's a wonderful guy. He's done well for us." 

Mallya dropped a big hint that Sutil, who drove for the team for five years from 2007 to 2011, would be next in line if Hulkenberg goes to Sauber. 

"Never forget I always have the potential of considering Sutil again," he added. "Sutil is always quick. So there are many options. I would certainly consider him." 

Source: En.espnf1.com

India GP- Qualification ForceIndia Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg (12th, Q2 - 1m 26.241s)
“We went into the session targeting and expecting to make Q3, so it’s a bit disappointing to miss out. After the first part of qualifying it was clear that it was going to be a big task, but obviously you always try and believe it is possible. My lap in Q2 was actually pretty good with no mistakes and that was just the maximum for us today. I guess that some other cars have picked up pace today and that’s why we are behind them. I still have confidence for the race because we have seen how close the times are today and we were not too far away from the top ten. The other good news is that we can pick our starting tyres for the race, so our focus tonight is to think hard about the strategy.”

Paul di Resta (16th, Q2 -1m 26.989s)
“It’s a big weekend for us but the performance we showed today is not really where we want to be. It has been a tricky couple of days and we’ve not been able to maximise the car we’ve got. The car balance was not ideal and I didn’t have the best lap during my final run in Q2 - there were a few small mistakes and I didn’t have the consistency or the confidence to really push. So there is a lot of work to do ahead of the race tomorrow and we need to look at things overnight to see where we can improve. It’s an important day for us and we need to try and recover some ground if we want to come home with points.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
“We saw another very close session today, but ultimately we didn’t have the performance level to continue our run of top ten qualifying performances. We’ve been struggling to find the sweet spot on set-up and it seems that the tyres have played a much more significant role here. Their operating window on this track seems very narrow and we probably haven’t got the most from them. Even so, it’s only Saturday and tomorrow is what counts. There is a long race ahead and we can still turn things around and demonstrate our true potential. It’s our home Grand Prix and we want to deliver strong races with both cars to hopefully see both Sahara Force Indias inside the points come Sunday afternoon.”

Source: F1.com 

Friday practice - Force India driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, P1 - 1:29.850, 14th; P2 - 1:27.233, 8th
“It was my first experience of the Buddh circuit today and I have to say they have done a really nice job. There’s a good flow to the lap and the second sector is very technical and challenging. The programme for me today was quite straightforward because we managed to do everything we wanted. I completed a decent long run on the soft tyres this afternoon and I think we are quite well prepared going into tomorrow.”

Paul di Resta, P2 - 1:29.760, 12th; P2 - 1:28.004, 11th
“It was not an easy session for me. The balance is still not perfect and we need to work hard tonight to try and improve that before final practice. The main issue of the day was the puncture I picked up half-way through FP2 because I missed out on my high-fuel run on the soft tyres. Also, it was hard to get a clean lap during my low fuel run because the track was so busy. We’ve got data with the other car but it would have been helpful to have run more laps and got a proper feel for the soft.”

Jakob Andreasen, Force India chief engineer
“The circuit was quite green this morning with very low grip so that made it difficult to learn too much. The priority was to get Nico up to speed quickly and pick up some data on a few test items, which all went to plan. The afternoon was less straightforward, largely because Paul picked up a puncture after his low fuel run on the soft tyres. That meant he missed out on his long run. Fortunately we got all the data we needed with Nico’s programme, but it certainly put Paul on the back foot. In terms of car balance we still have some work to do to get the car where we want it, but we have the data we need to make sure we can pick the right options for tomorrow.”

Source: F1.com
 

Force India 'still hunting Sauber'

Force India still believes it has a chance of overhauling Sauber in the constructors' championship this year, as it targets a big points haul at its home race this weekend.

The Silverstone-based outfit is 27 points behind Sauber with four races remaining, so will need some top-line results if it is to beat its Swiss rivals.

Team principal Vijay Mallya said on Tuesday that his outfit would be fired up by racing in front of the Indian crowd, and reckoned there was still everything to play for in the constructors' battle.

"The gap to Sauber is now 27 points. It's a big lead, but not impossible to catch them before the end of the year," he said.
"There's still a lot of racing to go and we will keep the pressure up for the final four races."

Mallya believes the strength of his team this year has been its consistency, rather than starring performances, as he expressed delight at the way it had moved forward since the summer break.

"It certainly feels like we have upped our game since the summer break and it has been satisfying to see us up there fighting for good points," he said.
"The only frustration is that we have not always managed to get two cars in the points and that has hurt us in the championship.

"But in terms of outright performance, I think we can be pleased with our level of consistency. We've had at least one car in the top ten of qualifying in over 80 per cent of the races and scored points in 75 per cent of the races.

"While we may not have finished on the podium this year, it is our consistency that has been key to our success and kept us in the fight."

Source: Autosport.com

India preview quotes - Force India

Paul di Resta, Force India
2011 Qualifying - 12th, 2011 Race - 13th
“It’s obviously our home Grand Prix and a special weekend. There’s pressure on us to perform and clearly we need to go there ready to keep the momentum going. It’s a busy week for everyone involved with the team and there’s a lot going on in terms of media work and extra events, but it won’t distract from our focus to come away with the best result we can.

“We’ve got to go there and qualify in the top ten. That will get us in contention and allow us to concentrate on the race. All year we’ve shown that we have a car capable of reaching Q3, but the grid is very close and we don’t have any margin so we need everything to come together perfectly. Also, based on our performance last year, we looked quite competitive at this track so you’ve got to hope that will carry over for this year.

“It’s one of those new-style Herman Tilke circuits so there’s a good mixture of corners, plenty of run-off and a few areas where overtaking is possible. We found last year that the grip built up quite quickly and the track was exciting to drive with some satisfying corners. I remember that tyre wear was quite high last year and I had to stop three times during the race, so understanding the tyres on Friday will be the priority.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“I was at the first Indian race last year, but obviously I didn’t get a chance to drive. I’ve been around the track in a road car and tried it on the simulator, but I still have a bit to learn on Friday. As a race it’s as big as they come for this team. We will be in Delhi at the start of the week to meet the local media and fans and they always show lots of enthusiasm for us. I hope that we will see their support at the track with lots of fans cheering us on.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
“Last year’s race was already a tremendous success and I’m sure we can expect an equally spectacular event this year. Buddh International Circuit always looks after us very well and I know that they have been working hard behind the scenes to fine-tune the circuit and facilities even more. But above all else, the most important thing is the layout of the track because last year all the drivers loved it. It’s certainly one of the best tracks in the world.

“I remember how proud I felt last year to see our cars racing in India in the colours of the Indian flag. It was a moment I had dreamed about and a great sporting achievement for our country. To score points was the icing on the cake. This year I would like to go one better and see both our cars in the points - at the very least - so that we can give our fans something to smile about. The gap to Sauber is now 27 points. It’s a big lead, but not impossible to catch them before the end of the year. There’s still a lot of racing to go and we will keep the pressure up for the final four races.”

Source: F1.com