Force India extends Mercedes engine deal into turbo era

Force India has extended its engine deal with Mercedes-Benz from the 2014 season onward after signing a "long-term agreement".

Force India has been supplied by Mercedes-Benz since 2009 and has now confirmed it will extend that customer deal into the new turbo era starting next year. The new agreement will see Mercedes-Benz supply Sahara Force India with "a complete power unit", which includes the 1.6-litre turbo engine, energy recovery systems (ERS), transmission and all associated ancillary systems.

"Our new agreement with Mercedes-Benz for the coming years is the most significant in the history of Sahara Force India," team principal Vijay Mallya said. "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."

Mercedes-Benz currently supplies its factory team, Force India and McLaren with engines, but the McLaren deal is under threat from 2015 onwards with rumours the British team will switch to Honda power. Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said he was delighted to announce the deal with Force India going forwards.

"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."

Source: En.espnf1.com

Force India says issues hid pace

Force India believes its Malaysian Grand Prix wheelnut issues hid just how competitive it was in the second round of the 2013 Formula 1 season.
Both Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil ultimately had to retire because of the nut system problem.

But the pace they showed before then left team boss Vijay Mallya both delighted as his team's progress and despondent over the cars' retirements.

"It's more than deep disappointment. It's extreme disappointment," he said.

"The cars were quick, very competitive: we were racing Mercedes very comfortably, [were] much quicker than the McLarens, quicker than Lotus I would like to believe.

"So it was really looking good until the wheelnut failed."

Di Resta agreed that a significant points chance had been squandered, though he does not think the Malaysia form will be a one-off.

"I went out and was setting purple times, was very quick, and was making good progress," he said of his pace after his first pit delay.

"I was probably looking at seventh place, without the first stop in which I lost all that time, so it is pretty frustrating given how quick we were over the weekend.

"Wheelnuts can be fixed for China, performance can't be fixed that quickly, and performance has been a big highlight of what we have achieved."

Source: Autosport.com 

Race - Forceindia driver quotes

Force India
Adrian Sutil (DNF)
“An early end to a race that promised so much for us. Both cars had the same problem with the wheel nuts and it cost us a lot of time in the pits. We’re not sure exactly what happened yet so the team stopped the cars to make sure we understand the issue. It’s a shame that this happened here because we had a very quick car today and I felt very comfortable as the track dried out. We have to stay positive, keep our heads up and remember that there are plenty of races left where we can make up for the disappointment of today.”

Paul di Resta (DNF)
“It’s frustrating to come away with nothing given how competitive we have looked all weekend. We saw an issue at Adrian’s first pit stop when I was sat behind him, which cost me about 15 seconds, and then I had the same issue with the wheel nut at my second pit stop. As a precaution the team chose to retire the car. The good news is that we have the performance in the car, but this is definitely a missed opportunity because we had the potential to score a lot of points today. We will go away, take this on the chin, and come back fighting in China.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal and managing director
“A very disappointing end to a weekend where we have shown tremendous pace with both our cars. We made it safely through the opening laps in the damp conditions and the track came to us as we switched to dry tyres with Paul being one of the fastest cars on the circuit. Unfortunately things went wrong in the pits when we experienced an issue with our captive wheel nut system at the first stop, which resulted in major delays for both cars. The issue occurred again at the second stop and it became apparent we would not be able to solve it during the race. As a precaution we were forced to retire both cars and will have a full investigation. It’s frustrating, but sometimes these things happen in racing. We will take the positives of the strong car performance and look to put things right next time out in China.”

Source: Formula1.com

Sutil struggles with oversteer in the wet

Adrian Sutil said oversteer in the wet meant he struggled to maintain his level of competitiveness when the rain came during qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix. 

Sutil had shown strong pace in the dry parts of qualifying, setting the fastest time in Q1 and the fifth best time in Q2. However, when the rain came in Q3 he could only manage the ninth fastest lap, although he will start from eighth due to a grid penalty for Kimi Raikkonen.

"I used to be more comfortable in the rain, but since the Pirelli tyres have come in I have had my difficulties for some reason," he explained. "In Melbourne I was still learning and I could have done better. Today I did not have the best feeling in the car and it was too pointy and too strong in the front and that gave me an oversteery balance and that's what you don't want in the wet conditions. 

"We don't know what the problem is, it may be a car problem, it may be a tyre problem and we have to find it. For sure, if we are fast in the dry we should be fast in the wet as well. I've shown it many times and Paul di Resta has shown it many times that we aren't bad drivers."

Sutil said he is targeting another finish in the points on Sunday after his strong start to the year in Australia.

"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." 

Source: En.espnf1.com

Qualifying - Force India driver quotes

Force India
Adrian Sutil (9th, Q3 - 1m 53.439s)
“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.”

Paul di Resta (15th, Q2 -1m 44.509s)
“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, Force India 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.”

Source: Formula1.com

Friday practice - Force India driver quotes

Force India
Paul di Resta, P1 - 1:37.773, 8th; P2 - 1:37.571, 8th
“I think we’ve had a reasonable day. We’ve got some tyre data and first impressions suggest that our performance level is pretty similar to where it was in Melbourne last week. Hopefully we can continue the progress overnight. Generally I’m fairly happy but, as always, there’s some work to do tonight to make sure we’re comfortable on both the compounds going into the race.”

Adrian Sutil, P1 - 1:37.769, 6th; P2 - 1:37.788, 10th
“The morning went okay and the balance was quite good. We made a change during the lunch hour to cure some oversteer and my general feeling with the car is good. I missed out on some running this afternoon, but I think the rain interrupted things for everybody so I didn’t miss too much dry track time. I still managed a run on the hard and the medium this afternoon so I’ve got a feel for both the tyre compounds.”

Jakob Andreasen, Force India chief engineer
“A fairly typical day in Malaysia with dry running this morning and a light shower in the afternoon session. On the whole we got through the bulk of the programme and both Paul and Adrian seemed pretty content with the handling of their cars from the start of running. Adrian’s afternoon session was cut short as a precaution, but it did not cost him too much dry track time relative to the others. Paul clocked up 30 laps this afternoon, running both the hard and medium compounds, and is in good shape heading into tomorrow. We don’t have as much long run data as we would ideally like, but we have enough information to make some sensible predictions.

Source: Formula1.com

Di Resta: fifth realistic for Force India

Paul di Resta is confident that Force India can challenge for fifth in the constructors' championship after a strong start to the season.

Adrian Sutil and di Resta finished seventh and eight respectively in Melbourne and the Scot suspects that the pattern will be the same at Sepang.

That points haul means that the Silverstone-based team, which finished seventh in the standings last year, holds fifth in the current table.

Di Resta stressed the need to capitalise on the strong position at the start of the season and is optimistic of doing so in the early-season flyaways.

"I would certainly like to hope it is," said di Resta when asked if fifth place is a realistic objective.

"We have come out [of the first race] much stronger than in recent years and 

here and Bahrain were very good for us last year.

"Having achieved what we did in Melbourne, we are on the right path to continue that and try and push ourselves into the mix for sixth, seventh and eight [in the races] where we were in Melbourne."

But di Resta warns that Sauber and particularly McLaren will be strong threats.

He accepts that McLaren is likely to come on more strongly as the season goes on, underlining Force India's need to press home its early advantage.

"I wouldn't say we were surprised we were the fifth team but given where McLaren are, obviously the sooner the races come up is an advantage to us.

"You have to respect that they are going to be fast again and they are going to be the ones that push us out.

"The unknown for us is Sauber because we never say what their race performance [with Nico Hulkenberg] was like.

"From the sessions beforehand, we seemed to have a bit of an edge on them but that's not to say that in the race they wouldn't have given us a harder time."

Source : Autosport.com

Force India braced for McLaren recovery

Force India needs to make the most of McLaren's early season troubles according to deputy team principal Bob Fernley.
 
With Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta both finishing in the points last weekend, Force India is upbeat about its chances of moving forward from where it ended 2012.

While McLaren is embroiled in its current performance slump, Fernley knows that there will be a good chance for his outfit to pick up the pieces behind the leading four teams.

"McLaren will obviously come back, so we have to try and capitalise while we can," Fernley told AUTOSPORT.

"It is not going to last for a long time, but once we have done that hopefully we have a bit of a buffer.

"Once McLaren are back in their normal slot it is going to be very hard for the other midfield teams to actually get points this year. I think it will be tougher than last year."

Fernley says the fact that Sutil was able to lead in Australia showed that there is some decent speed in the car, which means Force India has the equipment needed to achieve its targets.

"There is good pace in the car, but I am not sure we are a competitor with Red Bull, Ferrari or Lotus," he said.

"But I think what has happened is they have moved away a lot and we have moved up a little bit, so there is a bit more of a gap.

"We are in no-man's land to a degree. So we are better, but we are not good enough."

Source: Autosport.com

Sutil 'addressed all flaws' - Force India

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes that Adrian Sutil used his year out of Formula 1 to become a better driver.

The German was dropped by the team after five years at the end of 2011 in favour of Nico Hulkenberg.
Sutil returned for this season and led last weekend's Australian Grand Prix.

Fernley was quick to stress that Sutil had shown this step forward even before his Melbourne drive.

"He has really looked at himself very carefully and the reasons why we took Nico as opposed to him and he has addressed them all," Fernley told AUTOSPORT. "He has answered any critics he had.

"He has the experience to deal with the pressure and we could tell when he came to Barcelona and did his first day of testing that he had got it all together."

Fernley suspects that inexperience on the 2013 Pirelli tyres thanks to completing little pre-season testing played its part in Sutil dropping to seventh later in the Melbourne race.

Sutil completed only 249 laps during testing, fewer than any of the other drivers on the Australian GP grid.

"It was probably a little bit of inexperience by Adrian on the super-softs," said Fernley.

"He tried to bring them in the right way but he hasn't quite got the technique yet.
 
"He's only had a few days in the car and had he had a few more races under his belt and more work on the super-softs, he could have held fifth place."

Sutil landed the Force India drive over Jules Bianchi, who also impressed in Australia on his grand prix debut for Marussia.

Fernley says that the team is aware of Bianchi's potential, but that Sutil's ability to deliver consistent points from the off tipped the decision in his favour.

"It was a tough choice that we had to make between Jules and Adrian," said Fernley.

"Jules did a super job in the race and down the road he is going to be a wonderful driver but we have to deliver and get a good result this year because next year is going to be a bit of an unknown.

"We tried to look at how Adrian would settle in and from that point of view, he has come back quickly."

Source: Autosport.com

Malaysia preview quotes - Force India

Paul di Resta, Force India
2012 Qualifying - 14th, 2012 Race - 7th
“You never know what to expect in Malaysia! 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. 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, Force India
2012 Qualifying - n/a, 2012 Race - n/a
“I finished fifth in Malaysia 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.”

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
“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.

Source: Formula1.com

Sutil convinced there is more to come

Adrian Sutil thinks he still has plenty of room for improvement following his race-leading performance on his Formula 1 return in Australia.
 
The Force India driver led the middle phase of the Albert Park race, but lost places late on when he suffered high degradation on the super-soft rubber.

Having spent a year out of F1, during which he was convicted for his part in a night club brawl that took place after the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix, Sutil was surprised in the way he has got back up to speed so quickly.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he had expected to get back into the swing of things so fast, Sutil said: "Normally you expect it takes a little while. Maybe a few races.

"But I still believe I can improve myself. Here in the rain I wasn't feeling so 
comfortable, and that's where you really need to be one with the car.

"In the dry it's a bit easier to adapt to it. So there's more to come. I've proved a little bit."

Sutil is convinced that being out of the sport for a season has actually helped improve him as a driver.

"I think my advantage is having been away a little bit, and lived a normal life," he said.

"It's such a stressful sport sometimes; you just have no time to learn.

"So I believe I learned a little bit more. I was able to come back at a good level and [I am] probably able to step up a little more."

Source: Autosport.com 
 

A perfect comeback - Exclusive Q&A with Force India’s Adrian Sutil

An adventurous strategy call combined with some superb driving made Australia a great weekend for Force India’s Adrian Sutil, back on the Formula One grid for the first time in 16 months. Starting 12th, he twice led the race en route to an eventual seventh-place finish. Now he’s hoping for more of the same in Malaysia next weekend…

Q: Adrian, a fantastic race after a season’s absence from Formula One competition. How does it feel, picking up your performance level where you left it in Brazil 2011?
Adrian Sutil: Thanks, yes it was great fun to come back with a perfect race like that. I enjoyed it a lot. Sahara Force India gave me this chance to come back. Without them I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to show such a performance.
Q: You twice led the race - how much hope was growing in your head that you could bring it home?
AS: It was great to lead an F1 race for the first time. I think it was 14 laps and I enjoyed each of them, but I was realistic and knew that a win or podium at this race was not realistic. But I fought hard to stay in front as long as possible… (laughs)
Q: How did that feel, being in the lead? You were almost an F1 ‘has-been’ and now you have bounced back in style…
AS: I just enjoyed having such a good car and being able to stay ahead of Sebastian [Vettel], Fernando [Alonso] and Felipe [Massa] for some laps.
Q: Much has changed with the tyres since you last raced and yet after only three days’ testing you seemed to manage the Pirellis as if you’d never known anything else. How come?
AS: I had a good feeling from the first test on in Barcelona and there is still a lot to learn and to improve. At the end of the race when I had to take the supersoft tyres I wasn’t sure for some laps if I could finish the race with this set of tyres. But after some laps with really bad lap times they came back and I could save P7, which was a great result for me.
Q: What can you tell us about the strategy you were on? Almost everyone else started on the supersofts whereas you finished on them - did that make all the difference?
AS: I was very lucky to have the chance to decide which tyres I will start with. And we decided to start on the medium ones. This choice was the right one and I could even have stayed out for some more laps on them. The car felt fantastic and so I was even able to take the lead as all the others ahead of me had to pit earlier to take new tyres.
Q: You said that the weakness of McLaren would play to Force India’s advantage. Was that what we have seen?
AS: This race in Melbourne was very lucky for us, but McLaren is such a strong and experienced team that I’m convinced they will come back soon. Our only chance is to take all the opportunities we get. This time it worked out perfectly for us.
Q: How long do you guess Force India can keep McLaren behind before the big team hit back?
AS: As I said, I fear McLaren will come back sooner than we would like.
Q: The VJM06 looks like a serious points contender. Where do you see the strengths of the car?
AS: Yeah, I’m convinced we should fight consistently for points. We need to improve and push hard, but this car looks great and gives me a lot of confidence that we will be successful. These guys in the factory and at the track did a fantastic job. Thanks for such a good car.
Q: Melbourne is one thing, but what about next weekend in Malaysia. The conditions will definitely be different. What’s your guess?
AS: We will see next week. Our goal is to score points with both cars. Ten points for the team at the first race makes hope for more. Now that I’ve led a race for the first time, there is still my dream to be on the podium for the first time, so let’s see what’s possible in Malaysia.

Source: Formula1.com

Sutil stunned by his comeback form

Adrian Sutil said he was amazed he could stay in the lead of the Australian Grand Prix, his first race since spending 2012 on the sidelines.


The German, back with Force India after not racing last year, benefited from being one of the few drivers who started the race on the medium tyre compound to move into the lead after the frontrunners had pitted.

Although he came under pressure from Sebastian Vettel, Sutil managed to stay ahead before he made his first pitstop.
The Force India driver then went on to finish in seventh position.

"I wasn't expecting that but I came back to do better and it was a great feeling to be straight up there," said Sutil. "So I just tried to keep concentrated and use my chance. I was amazed we could be competitive at the front.

"I gained first place back after the first pitstop so the pace was really there. Vettel was probably too close running behind [me and] maybe destroyed his tyres, but the pace was there and that was great to see.

"I knew we were going to lose a few places [in the final stint] because I was on an opposite strategy but nevertheless seventh in first race, to lead quite a lot, it showed what was possible. It's a sign you should never give up and always believe, anything's possible."

Sutil said he had to keep his emotions in check when he realised he was leading the race, but he insisted he was ready for it thanks to his new mindset in his second Formula 1 spell.

"It was nice to see P1 on my board, no question," he added. "But it's very important to keep your emotions under control in the sport. Emotions are not the best to have, when you want to race you want to be successful.

"I think I'm quite good at it now. I saw that as a big day, it was nice, but it's not that I wasn't feeling good in this position.

"When I came back into the sport I thought I'm just coming back if I can do better. I programmed my mind for this kind of position. I know it's just maybe only today, but maybe it will come again and I want to go to the front."
The German said he is now hungry for more.

"We showed we are absolutely strong enough to score points and I'm always aiming for my first podium," he said, "for a long time I've wanted to do that.

"Whenever it comes I want to be ready that's a good target for this year. Maybe it happens, maybe not, but I will push for that."

Source: Autosport.com

Race - Forceindia drivers quotes

Adrian Sutil (7th)
“What a fantastic race and a great feeling. I started on the medium tyres, a different strategy to most of the cars ahead of me, and I think this was the right decision. The pace was quick and the car felt very good on the medium tyres so I was able to keep up with the guys in front of me, who I knew were going to pit early. It was not long until I was leading the race – my first time leading in Formula One. After my second pit stop I was back in the lead once again, so I knew that it was possible to come away with a great result. My final stint on the super–softs was much more difficult because the tyres started graining and I lost a few places. I was thinking I might need to pit again, but fortunately the tyres came back to me for the final few laps so I could save the seventh place. This result for the team is a perfect way to start the season and I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the team once again.”
Paul di Resta (8th)
“Seventh and eighth for the team is a great result and a great way to kick off the season. We’ve shown we have a car that is kind on its tyres and that helped us today by making less stops than some of our rivals. I feel I had a car that could have finished seventh, but I was stuck behind some of the three–stoppers at the start of my second stint, and that cost me quite a lot of track position. There are a lot of positives to take from the race, as well as some things that we can improve to make the car stronger, but we’re in a good position heading to Malaysia.”
Robert Fernley, Force India deputy team principal
"What a great team performance to start our season. Ten points is a great effort and confirms the pace we have demonstrated all weekend. Adrian’s return to racing has been fantastic and it’s clear he has lost none of his speed or racecraft. He was on a different strategy to most of the front–runners, but made it work beautifully and showed strong pace throughout the Grand Prix – even leading for 11 laps. Paul was on the opposite strategy and finished just a fraction behind Adrian in the end. He probably could have passed Adrian in the closing laps, but he held station to ensure we brought home the strong team result. We said over the winter that we needed a strong start to the year, so hopefully we can build on this next week in Malaysia.”

Source: Formula1.com

Qualifying - ForceIndia driver quotes

Force India
Paul di Resta (9th, Q3 -1m 29.305s)
“We came here with intentions of reaching Q3 so it’s a good way to start the year. I think we got most things right today, especially the timing of the switch to a fresh set of intermediates towards the end of Q2. Ninth position is a good place to be starting and it’s on the cleaner side of the track too. It’s difficult to predict much for the race, just as it’s hard to predict the weather, but we’re in a strong place to start the race. Our long runs on Friday looked competitive and consistent so we will go into the race with maximum attack and aiming for points.”

Adrian Sutil (12th, Q2 - 1m 38.134s)
“The track conditions were much better this morning, but it was still tricky and I didn’t feel that comfortable on the damp track. The key to Q2 was the timing of your lap and we probably changed a bit too early to the new intermediates because there was only one quick lap in those tyres. I had time for another lap, but my tyres were going off and I could not improve. Even so, I’m quite happy with the session and it’s not bad to end up twelfth in my first qualifying session back with the team. I can feel there is more to come and I felt good in the dry conditions on Friday, so I hope we carry that into the race.”

Robert Fernley, Force India deputy team principal
“We’re feeling pretty positive with our qualifying showing this morning and our performance level is about where we expected. The conditions remained tricky with a damp and drying track, but we managed to get Paul through to Q3 and that was a clear objective. Adrian didn’t feel totally comfortable in the wet, but given that this was his first qualifying session for over a year, twelfth place is a good effort. The weather forecast for the rest of the day looks uncertain, but our strong showing on Friday gives us every reason to be optimistic this afternoon. Points should be in reach for both cars and will remain our objective

Source: Formula1.com

Sutil aims to benefit from McLaren woes

Adrian Sutil reckons McLaren's early season woes give his Force India team a proper chance of making it through to Q3 now.

McLaren is bracing itself for a difficult start to its campaign as it struggles to get its MP4-28 up to speed.

Its form is a bonus to Force India, though, which emerged in Friday practice as the nearest challenges to the pacesetting Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus teams.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he felt McLaren's struggles would give Force India a genuine shot at a top ten place on the grid, Sutil said: "Yeah, I believe we can make it into Q3 definitely.

"Our focus is to the front, and after that we confirmed we are strong, and competitive in the front of the midfield.

"So we have to take all the chances we get. Everything is possible. Tomorrow there is rain expected so it will be pedal to the metal and to the front."

Sutil said that his Friday programme had been encouraging, which gave him confidence for the team's chances over the rest of the weekend.

"I am quite happy," he said. "Everything went very well. I had good work with my engineer. We did several runs on different tyres, but we didn't change much on the set-up."

Source: Autosport.com

Friday practice - ForceIndia driver quotes

Adrian Sutil, P1 - 1:28.426, 8th; P2 - 1:27.435, 9th
"It was a very good day and I feel satisfied. The baseline set-up was not too far away from what we needed and the car felt very similar to the way it performed in Barcelona at the final test. I had a good feeling all day and enjoyed working with my engineers, who I already know very well. The track is obviously evolving and improving, but we got a good feel for the tyres. The main focus tonight is to work on improving the balance on the supersofts."

Paul di Resta, P1 - 1:28.910, 13th; P2 - 1:28.311, 12th
"It wasn't the easiest of days because I had a balance issue with the car in the second session. It looks like I picked up some damage, so it was not easy to gauge exactly where we are. Given that it's likely to be wet tomorrow, it was crucial to get all the tyre information we needed today. There is a noticeable difference between the two compounds, but it's difficult to say much more until we have been over all the data."

Jakob Andreasen, Force India chief engineer
"A typical day of Friday practice to start the season. The cars are working well and we were able to pick up where we left off in the Barcelona test. Adrian settled back into the routine seamlessly and worked his way steadily through the programme. The only issue of the day was some damage to the floor of Paul's car, which we were unable to fix, so that compromised his car's performance this afternoon. Overall we're well prepared going into the weekend and possibly anticipating some wet weather tomorrow."

Source: Formula1.com

Di Resta wants maiden podium in 2013

Paul di Resta says his primary goal for the 2013 Formula 1 season is to get his maiden podium finish.
 
Force India was generally a points contender in 2012, but whereas fellow upper midfielders Williams and Sauber got a win and podiums respectively, di Resta's squad never reached such heights.

Asked how important a 2013 podium was to him, di Resta replied: "It's the next thing on my list of achievements. We came very close in Singapore.

"It's not a secret that that would probably be the biggest target I've got this year, to get on the podium.

"After that, we will set goals of what we think is realistic for where our car is but I expect to be racing the likes of Sauber and Williams.

"The likes of Mercedes, who we were racing at the end of last year, they have moved up a step by the looks of it but never say never."

Di Resta also wants to improve his consistency this season, though he believes the adaptability of the car will be as important in that as his own performance.

"Consistency is probably one of the things I want to work on," he said.

"That's equally the way we have built the car. When we got the car in an operating window that is proper, it gets big results.

"If we can achieve that [window on] more weekends, we can do that.

"I want to keep plugging away and keep coming away from each weekend saying we achieved everything we could have, or very close to it.

"It comes down to taking every opportunity, because sixth, seventh place is an excellent result for this team and when you can get those, certainly if you can get a few in a row, it has a huge impact on the points tally."

Source: Autosport.com

Australia preview quotes - Force India

Paul di Resta, Force India
2012 Qualifying - 15th, 2012 Race - 10th
"It’s been a very positive winter – probably the best winter I can remember while I have been with the team – and I’ve done as much preparation as I can both on and off the track. It’s my third year as a race driver and I’ve got the same team around me so I think that consistency will be very important this year. I think it’s only when we get to Melbourne that we will understand where we are compared to the other teams. You can look at the laptimes in testing, but everybody is focussed on their own programme so you can’t make any assumptions. What we can say is that we’re determined to push on from where we finished last season and the target for Melbourne has to be reaching Q3 and racing for points."

Adrian Sutil, Force India
2012 Qualifying - n/a, 2012 Race - n/a
"2012 was an interesting year because I experienced life away from Formula One and in many ways it has given me a new perspective. I think it helped me grow as a person and I feel mentally stronger as a result. I feel fresh and energized, and ready for the season. When I was back in the car for the first time in Barcelona it felt natural – almost as if I had never been away. I was back on the pace and able to push hard straight away. I’ve only spent three days in the car during testing, but already I’m feeling very comfortable. It’s very driveable and the balance is good. There is still a lot I need to understand, especially in terms of the tyres, but we’re in a good place already. It’s difficult to set a goal for this weekend, but my target for the season is to improve on my 2011 performance and aim for some podiums. So we need to start the year well, aim high and take our chances."

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"I’m really looking forward to the start of the season. We’ve picked up points in Melbourne for the past couple of seasons so that’s a clear objective for this coming weekend. Last year we had some of our best performances on street circuits, so I’m optimistic we can perform well on the streets of Albert Park.I am very happy about our driver line-up and I am particularly delighted to welcome Adrian back to the team. Over the winter we thought long and hard about the decision, but I’m sure we have made the right choice. Adrian is very quick and has a great history with the team - he has been with us from the very start and is truly part of the family. Everyone was impressed by his performance during winter testing in Barcelona: he was able to deliver great pace right away. Paul has matured into a very good driver and in his third season with us we are confident he will deliver the results his talent warrants. He has gelled with the team perfectly and following a strong winter he is well prepared for a great season. Adrian and Paul make up the driver pairing that brought us to our best-ever Championship result in 2011 and there is no reason why we can’t have a similar result this year. The VJM06 has shown excellent reliability in winter testing. The rules haven’t changed much from 2012 and everyone in the team is confident we can pick up where we left off at the end of last season. The first race of the season on a track like Melbourne is always a lottery; if any of the front runners stumble, we will be ready to pounce."

Source : F1.com
 

Sutil learned a lot from year away - Force India

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley believes Adrian Sutil's year away from Formula One has had a positive effect on the driver.

Sutil returns to F1 with Force India this year after a season on the sidelines following a conviction for grievous bodily harm. It had looked as though Sutil's career might be over but his old team called on him during winter testing and eventually decided to give him a race drive over reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

"Adrian was exemplary," Fernley told Sporting Life. "He just ticked every box, which was no disrespect to Jules because it was a very tough decision.

"We just felt Adrian has that tiny bit more experience to deliver what we need to do this year, but it was a very difficult decision. If you saw the way Adrian carried himself after that test, he's learned a lot by being out for a year.

"Adrian has always been very fast. We had to make a choice at the end of 2011 whether to go for Adrian or Nico [Hulkenberg], and it was Nico. But now Adrian is deserving of a second chance, and that's why we are giving him one."

Fernley added that there should be no problems getting Sutil visas to enter countries despite his criminal conviction.

"I don't think there are any problems." he added. "It's just a matter of the management team clearing them all up beforehand. We don't expect any problems at all. I don't see any issues. I think it's about being transparent, and then it will be fine."

Source: En.espnf1.com

Exclusive Adrian Sutil Q&A: It’s good to be back

It’s been a long wait, but earlier this week Adrian Sutil was finally confirmed as Paul di Resta’s 2013 team mate at Force India, resuming their successful partnership of 2011. After his first day back in the car testing, having been given the nod over the team’s 2012 reserve Jules Bianchi, Sutil spoke to Formula1.com about his return to the grid…

Q: Adrian, how did you cope emotionally with having to wait so long for confirmation of your drive?
Adrian Sutil: We had no other choice but to wait. And we did all we could to make it happen. I had a great test last week that showed that I still haven’t lost it, so from that day on I said to myself now it’s up to them to decide.

Q: How emotional is it to back with your F1 ‘family’ at Force India?
AS: It’s good to be back and it felt from the first day as if I had never been away. It helped a lot that I know this team so well and that the whole team welcomed me. These guys from Sahara Force India made it very easy to come back and to feel good from the first moment on.

Q: Who told you - and when?
AS: My manager Manfred Zimmermann was in contact with Force India over the last few days, weeks and months. I’m sure he never wrote so many emails in his life, asking ‘guys, when will you decide?’

Q: Was there ever a moment when you felt that everything was lost and F1 racing was out of your reach?
AS: No, we always believed in our chance to come back. We worked hard to make it as difficult as possible for (Force India boss) Vijay (Mallya) to decide against me. I’m very thankful to Force India that I do get this second chance.

Q: What do you think swayed the decision in your favour?
AS: I had a great time with Force India and I had two good seasons in 2010 and 2011, with P9 in the drivers’ championship. The team knows me better than any other team. And, for sure, we left Force India 2011 in peace and we always stayed in contact. And as I just said before, my test last week showed that I’m still in good shape and that I have not lost it. In the end that is what matters. (laughs)

Q: You were more of known quantity, whereas Jules Bianchi would have been more of a gamble - did that play to your advantage? It is obvious nowadays that both drivers have to deliver if a team is to secure a good position in the constructors’ standing, and did your share of delivering for Force India in 2011...
AS: That’s true. There is a very strong and close midfield and if you want to climb up as a team in the constructors’ championship you need two strong drivers who can deliver. And my P9 in the 2011 standings demonstrated that I can deliver.

Q: How big a help were Mercedes? Does this mean that Force India will again be racing with Mercedes engines in 2014?
AS: I honestly don’t know, but all I have heard is that Mercedes supported me and tried to help me, which gives me a very good feeling.

Q: You will again be racing alongside Paul di Resta. Do you see the two of you as a strong pairing that can fend off the likes of Hulkenberg/Gutierrez at Sauber and Maldonado/Bottas at Williams, the immediate competitors of Force India?
AS: Paul and I both had a very strong season in 2011 and our goal this year must be to beat Sauber and Williams. If that’s possible we will see, as nobody can predict any pecking order before Melbourne as, of course, it all depends on how good our package is - and how good that of the others is.

Q: The Force India showed very good pace at the end of the 2012 season - do you feel it has retained the momentum?
AS: So far I have had just two days in the new car and I never drove the 2012 car. During these two days I had a very good feeling, which gives me the hope that we have a good chance to start the season well and that we will be able to develop the car even further in the course of the year. Of course, scoring as many points as possible is also very high up on my agenda.

Q: How are you planning to go about the 2013 season? How much of an issue will it be that you’ve been away for over a year?
AS: Yes, I’ve been out for 14 months, but to be honest when I started in F1 in 2007 I had in total maybe six to eight testing days. Now I have driven 90 Grands Prix in five years and I do have a lot of experience. I trained a lot, I feel relaxed and free, and the rest will come back soon.

Q: Is it a disadvantage that you have had so little time to learn how to read the Pirelli tyres? Others have the benefit of over a year’s experience with them - and still many are not sure that they understand them completely?
AS: It is as it is. I can’t change it and I have to live with it. It has been always a strength of mine, challenging situations like this.

Q: Obviously your first wish for 2013 has already come true: returning to F1 racing. What would be another wish for this season?
AS: After 90 Grands Prix, five years of waiting and being - with a P4 - very close to a podium, I want to finally be on the podium. This is my wish for 2013.

Source: Formula1.com

Paul di Resta pleased to reunite with Adrian Sutil

Paul di Resta has welcomed the return of Adrian Sutil to the Force India Formula 1 squad this season.
Force India confirmed on Thursday that Sutil had beaten Jules Bianchi to its vacant seat.


Di Resta previously partnered the German at the squad in 2011.

"I welcome Adrian back," said di Resta at the Barcelona test. "I said whoever the team chose I'd be supportive.

"Jules was close to us as well and you've got to feel a little bit sorry for where he is, but I think Adrian and I will work well together.

"We're good friends and will push the team on. The good relationship will start from where it left off in 2011."

Although di Resta compared favourably to his more experienced team-mate during his rookie F1 season in 2011, he still finished behind Sutil in the standings, with 27 points to 42.

Di Resta knows that, with two years of F1 experience now behind him, he will need to beat Sutil in 2013.

"At the end of the day it is competitive and I want to come out on top of him," he added.

Source: Autosport.com

Sutil reinvigorated as F1 return sealed

Adrian Sutil says he has a new-found determination to succeed in Formula 1 after being given a second chance by Force India.
 
As AUTOSPORT reported on Wednesday night, Sutil has been given the nod by the Silverstone-based team to race alongside Paul di Resta. The team confirmed the deal during testing on Thursday.

His return to F1, after a year on the sidelines, comes despite a conviction for grievous bodily harm that was handed down for his part in an assault on Lotus co-owner Eric Lux at the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix.

Speaking about the opportunity - which denies Jules Bianchi an F1 chance - Sutil said: "Having been away from the sport, I'm even more determined to achieve my goals in Formula 1.

"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."

Sutil will test for Force India at Barcelona on Friday and Saturday this week, with di Resta completing the pre-season's preparations on Sunday.
Force India owner Vijay Mallya said Sutil's five years of F1 experience had been the key factor in him beating Bianchi to the seat.

"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," said Mallya.

"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."
Mallya added that he hoped Bianchi would stay on at the outfit in another role.

"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's F1 record

2006: Impresses in three Friday practice appearances for Midland while winning Japanese Formula 3 title
2007: Gets full-time seat at renamed Spyker team. Scores a point in wet Japanese Grand Prix
2008: Stays on as team becomes Force India. Gains Giancarlo Fisichella as team-mate. Runs fourth in Monaco until taken out by Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari
2009: Force India alongside Fisichella. High point is second on grid and fourth in race at Monza.
2010: Force India with Tonio Liuzzi as team-mate. Eleventh in championship with 47 points (Liuzzi 15th on 21). Qualifies fourth in Malaysia, finishes fifth there and in Belgium
2011: Force India with Paul di Resta as team-mate. Ninth in championship with 42 points (di Resta 13th on 27). Best qualifying is four eighth places, best finishes sixth in Germany and Brazil
Total: 90 starts, one fastest lap, one front row start.

Source: Autosport.com