Malaysian GP - Force India drivers: Penalties unfair

Force India Formula 1 drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg both felt their penalties for collisions in the Malaysian Grand Prix were undeserved.
The pair were given 10-second time penalties in quick succession late in the Sepang F1 race, after Perez had tangled with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and Hulkenberg clashed with Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat.
Grosjean expressed fury at Perez's driving over the Lotus radio after they came together while he was completing an outside-line pass on the Mexican.
But Perez said there was little he could do to avoid hitting the Lotus.

"To be honest I couldn't avoid it at all, it was just a racing incident," he said.

"I tried my best to avoid him but it's a very fast corner and you are just so on the limit.
"I lightly touched him which was enough to spin him and they gave me a 10s penalty.
"I was quite surprised to be honest with the penalty as I didn't have anywhere to go.

"I actually didn't say anything to my team because I thought it was clear, I just kept going and then later they told me I had a penalty."

Perez reckoned Grosjean put himself in a "risky" position with his pass.

"I think it was a risky move - it was on the limit and those things can happen especially if you consider the amount of degradation you have at that point," he said.

Hulkenberg's tangle with Kvyat came as they went wheel-to-wheel through the opening complex of corners during a three-way dice also involving Daniel Ricciardo.

"I was originally battling with Ricciardo and [Kvyat] comes inside and I went wide at Turn 1," said Hulkenberg.

"Daniil didn't see me coming back across at Turn 2. I tried to pull out but it was too late and we made contact.

"He is turning in completely while there is a car next to him so maybe he should leave some room too, but maybe he didn't expect anyone to come through there."

Asked for his view on the penalty, Hulkenberg replied: "I don't agree with it."
Kvyat was sanguine about the clash.

"I think it was a racing incident," he said.

"If he didn't do this we'd both have gained. But he decided to go for it.

"I have nothing against him."

The Russian continued to finish ninth, while Perez and Hulkenberg ended up 13th and 14th.

Autosport.com 
 

Malyasian GP - Race - Force India Driver quotes

Sergio Perez - 13th
"We knew ahead of the race it would be a big fight to get close to the points and it turned out to be just the case. I struggled with degradation in my first stint, on mediums, and that cost me a lot of time after the Safety Car. We had slightly better pace with the hard compound, but in the end it was not enough to get back in contention. The penalty didn't help us either; I felt I had nowhere to go and couldn't avoid contact with Romain. I thought it was a racing incident but it ended up costing us a lot. It's a disappointing result but at least we were able to learn a lot from this race and this will help us going forward."

Nico Hulkenberg - 14th
"It was a tough afternoon and I was always kept very busy with lots going on around me. I was really struggling with the general balance and the car was sliding around, especially as the tyres became older. We chose not to pit during the early safety car, which gave me good track position, but it was not an easy decision. We were trying to make the two-stop strategy work, but it just wasn’t possible with the degradation and so we switched to three stops. Perhaps it would have been better to commit to the three-stop earlier, but I’m not sure it would have changed the result that much. The penalty for the contact with Daniil [Kvyat] also dropped me out of the fight for points. I went a bit wide in turn one and chose to go back on the inside going into turn two. I was quite well alongside him, but he probably didn’t think I would try to come back at him."

Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
"It was a challenging afternoon for the team, although we were unlucky not to come away with at least a point. Both Checo and Nico gave everything in these conditions and featured in a lot of battles for the majority of the race. We seemed to have the measure of some of the stronger cars, but the penalties effectively cut us out of the fight for the top ten positions. We knew going into the race that we were lacking ultimate pace today and with a fully dry race there was not much that would disrupt the strategy or offer any opportunity to exploit. Now we need to regroup, continue our work back at base and come back stronger in the near future. Everyone is putting in a real effort to get us back where we belong quickly and it will be hugely rewarding when we are once more fighting closer to the front."

Formula1.com 
 

Malaysian GP - Saturday - Qualifying - Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg - 13th
“It was a short qualifying session in the end with the rain arriving quite early in Q2. Maybe it would have been better for us if the rain had arrived five minutes earlier and Q2 was completely wet because everybody was able to complete a lap on slicks when the track was quite dry. It was only on the in-lap that the skies really opened. As it happens I think it would have been very difficult to reach Q3 anyway. The race tomorrow will be tough, especially managing the tyres in the high temperatures. There is always the chance of more rain and that’s when you have to adapt quickly because it’s all about being on the right tyre at the right moment. Whatever happens we will try our best to come away with some points.”
Sergio Perez - 14th
"It was really tough out there in these conditions. I was the last car out on track in Q2 and that compromised my lap on the mediums - our strategy was the right one but we were just a bit late in going out and by the time I got to sectors two and three the track was starting to get wet. All in all, I think where we are is a fair reflection of our current pace. We are hoping to be in a better position than others tomorrow because our focus has been directed towards the race rather than qualifying. We've seen in Melbourne that anything can happen so I will approach the race aiming for points."
Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
“It is always very challenging when you effectively have just one lap to get your qualifying time: this was the case today, and we feel both Sergio and Nico managed to extract everything that was possible in those conditions. Avoiding the pitfalls of Q1 was a positive result and P13 and P14 is about where we stand in terms of one-lap pace at the moment. We remain positive about our chance to score points tomorrow: the midfield remains very close and, if we can deliver the race pace we showed on Friday, it should make for an interesting Sunday afternoon. Of course, the weather conditions could play a huge part in the race; it will be crucial to make the right calls from the pit wall and make the most of any opportunity.”

Formula1.com

Nico Hulkenberg Q&A: I’m prepared for a difficult race

Rock solid reliability helped Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg finish seventh from 14th on the grid in the Australian season opener, but after struggling for pace in dry-weather conditions at Sepang, the German isn’t overly confident of repeating that feat in Malaysia. Unless, of course, it rains…

Q: Nico, Force India made a late start to the pre-season, but still managed to get both cars to the finish in Australia. Was that a surprise to you, and can you repeat that here?

Nico Hulkenberg: Well, yes, Melbourne came as a bit of a surprise - a very positive one indeed. Of course, we were a bit lucky with a number of DNFs, but you also have to earn that luck and stay in the race. We were there when it counted and didn’t make any mistakes. So it was a good start to the year, race-wise.

Q: For much of last year Force India were generally weaker in qualifying than in the races. Is this a trend that you expect to see again this year, given the fact that you started P14 in Melbourne and finished in P7?

NH: A bit yes, but not quite to the extent of last year. Right now we are a bit too far behind compared to our competitors in terms of pure speed. We need to catch up a bit more to fall in the 2014 pattern. But yes, the race is still our preferred part of the weekend. (laughs)

Q: Have you had a bit of a wake-up call in terms of qualifying? In Australia you started from P14 and Checo (Sergio Perez, Force India team mate) from P15; now here you hold P13 and Checo is starting from P14…

NH: Not really a wake-up call. It is pretty much what we expected. We know that we have a huge mountain in front of us that we need to climb. And we have a pretty good idea how we can make this car faster, but it is not an overnight fix. It will take a few more weeks before we start to bring real performance to this car. Under the circumstances - that I was out on used tyres as we wanted to save the softs for the race - I think we did a decent job.

Q: What can you say about the VJM08? You hardly knew it before the race in Melbourne…

NH: Yep, that’s true - we didn’t have that much testing. To be honest I was really comfortable right from the very beginning - even in testing. The car is pretty similar to last year’s car. A lot of carry-over items like the steering wheel - we do have a few new functions - but more or less it is the same as last year. There was not too much adaptation work to be done, so I felt at home very quickly again. That can make a difference. 

Q: What about the reliability bonus that was always part of Force India’s success - will it also do the trick in 2015?
NH: Yes, I think reliability should be one of our strengths again. The car and the Mercedes power unit come together pretty well. But we’ve only done one race, so let’s wait and see if it lasts.

Q: The first race always throws up a few surprises - what was the stunner for you in Melbourne?
NH: How much Ferrari have caught up. They have made a huge step forward on the engine side and pretty much closed the gap to Mercedes. And that doesn’t only go for Ferrari, but also for Sauber. They have made a big step and now have a strong car as well. This was a bit of a surprise, or at least interesting to see.

Q: After Force India’s fight for position with McLaren in 2014, will your immediate opponents now be Sauber, Toro Rosso and Williams?
NH: I think Williams is still some way ahead, but it is our target to catch up by the second half of the season. But for now yes, it could be Sauber and Toro Rosso. Lotus is the dark horse as we haven’t seen too much from them yet - at least not in the race.

Q: What are the expectations here in Malaysia, in what is a completely different environment to Melbourne?
NH: The good thing here in Malaysia is that anything can happen the moment it starts to rain. It was on the lap when it started to rain in qualifying that I overtook some cars - and that hasn’t happened to me for a long time. And should we get another little bit of ‘help’ from some of the other teams retiring early then things should be possible. But to be honest, I expect a tough weekend for us here. Of course I am optimistic as I can be, but knowing the characteristics of the car I am rather prepared for a difficult race - especially as the forecast says that it will stay dry, which doesn’t help us.

Q: What is the weakest link of the car? Is it the aerodynamics?
NH: It is a fact that aerodynamics is king these days, so that is the main area of concern, though I have to say that the balance is pretty good. What we really need is something that presses the car down - and I don’t mean me putting on weight! (laughs)

Q: Will the experience of the drivers make a difference? Two of the teams that qualified ahead of Force India have rookies or very inexperienced drivers in their cockpits - will they suffer when conditions get tough with rain or a safety car?
NH: Hopefully they will! (laughs) But judging by the first race the rookies did pretty well, though of course they also have quite decent cars. But yes, here in Malaysia there might be situations where experience can help us to have the edge over them. But that remains to be seen.

Q: How do you see the situation with the tyres this weekend?
NH: Well, the degradation is pretty high here, like it is every year, so I am sure everybody is prepared for that. It’s good to know that we have some new softs spare (for the race)…

Q: What’s your guess at how many stops there will be? Three? Or do you think you can manage the race with two stops?
NH: We will have to see on Sunday. My guess is the two stops would be very ambitious.

Formula1.com 
 

 

Malaysian GP - Friday Quotes - Force India

Nico Hulkenberg
FP1 - 15th; FP2 - 15th
"It was a fairly straightforward day and we managed to almost maximise our time on track. The afternoon, in particular, was a good session in which we managed to do all the runs we were planning: we did some useful tests and I believe there is a lot we can learn from today, both for the rest of the weekend and for the future. The track conditions changed significantly between the morning and afternoon session, and this had a big influence on how the car felt, especially the tyre performance. We need to take all the information we learned today and work hard overnight to find some gains for tomorrow."

Sergio Perez
FP1 - 16th; FP2 - 13th
"We did a lot today and I think it's been a positive start to our weekend. We completed our programme and we covered a good amount of laps, which gave us a lot of information, especially about the long runs. The heat will have a big impact on the tyres and my feeling is that it's relatively easy to get performance over a single lap, but on the other hand the track temperatures impact heavily on degradation, so our focus is to find the right balance of how to manage the tyres. We know the task ahead won't be easy as the grid is very competitive, but we will do our best."

Robert Fernley, Force India Deputy Team Principal
"It was a fairly positive day in the extreme conditions that are typical of Malaysia. The morning was dedicated to gathering aero data with special instrumentation and sensors on the car, which is a important step to help us understand how the VJM08 is performing here and will help guide future development. For the afternoon, our focus shifted towards working on the set-up and preparing for the race. By the end of the second session, both drivers were happy with the balance. We obviously still have a lot of work to do ahead of qualifying, but from a learning perspective we've achieved a lot today."

Formula1.com

Malaysian GP - Force India Driver Preview Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg
"I am really looking forward to getting back to action in Sepang after a fairly positive start of the season. We knew the VJM08's reliability was one of our strong points and we were able to play that card well. We didn't make any mistakes and we had a good strategy, and that helped us capitalise on a day when others ran into trouble. We need to keep our feet on the ground, however, because we know the circumstances in which we got this result and we know the next races will be tough.

"The track in Sepang is quite challenging and is very different compared to Melbourne. The various sectors have unique characteristics: there is a nice variation of high and low-speed corners and two very long straights. You need to balance your setup between top speed and downforce to make the most of your car in each of them. The high temperatures and humidity add to the challenges of this track, and you always have a threat of rain, especially at the start of the race."

Sergio Perez
"Malaysia is a very special place for me. It is where I got my first podium in Formula One, in one of the best races of my career in 2012, so I will always have happy memories about this circuit. The track is really interesting and the three sectors each have their own character. The track is physical but it has some very technical parts as well. You also have some very long straights at the end of the lap that offer a lot of opportunities for overtaking.

"The weather always makes it interesting. When you are racing in Sepang it is something that is always in the back of your mind, because you know a sudden rainstorm can throw up some unexpected strategies and opportunities you can exploit. The heat and the humidity are a big challenge, but as a driver you are prepared for this. You work really hard during the pre-season and every day with your trainer to be at your best in these circumstances, so I know I am ready.

"I am looking forward to going racing again after our first run in Melbourne. We are still learning a lot about the full potential of the VJM08 and every time we hit the track we are going to find some improvements. We are aware of the work needed to make our car more competitive, but we also know it is going to take time. The car feels really promising but it needs development and I look forward to getting some upgrades soon."

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"Starting our season in Melbourne with both cars in the points was the ideal way to open our 2015 account. Those seven points were an important reward for all the hard work of everyone in the team over the winter and give us something to build upon as we head for Malaysia. 

"Despite scoring well in Melbourne, we know the VJM08 is only just beginning its development journey and that we need to add performance if we want to finish consistently in the points. There will be some small tweaks this weekend before bigger steps can be made during the European season.

"Malaysia is an interesting track for us. We had a good race there last year with Nico and it's a track that generates good racing. The hot weather usually plays to our strengths and the risk of rain can add another dimension to the strategy. Hopefully we can capitalise on these elements to be competitive and come away with another strong result."

Formula1.com 

Mallya warns Force India must improve

Force India must not get carried away with their double-points score in Australia and need to focus their efforts on improving the outright performance of the VJM08, team boss Vijay Mallya has warned ahead of this weekend's 2015 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix. 

After a troubled pre-season, Force India's 2015 car has proved reliable from the outset, with Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez finishing seventh and tenth respectively at Albert Park. But despite that positive opening, Mallya says work needs to be done to make points finishes a regular prospect.

"Despite scoring well in Melbourne, we know the VJM08 is only just beginning its development journey and that we need to add performance if we want to finish consistently in the points," he insisted. 

"There will be some small tweaks this weekend before bigger steps can be made during the European season. Malaysia is an interesting track for us. We had a good race there last year with Nico and it's a track that generates good racing. The hot weather usually plays to our strengths and the risk of rain can add another dimension to the strategy. Hopefully we can capitalise on these elements to be competitive and come away with another strong result."

Hulkenberg cautioned that consistency rather than overall performance had underpinned the team's success in the 2015 season-opener, adding: "We knew the VJM08's reliability was one of our strong points and we were able to play that card well - we didn't make any mistakes and we had a good strategy, and that helped us capitalise on a day when others ran into trouble. 

"We need to keep our feet on the ground, however, because we know the circumstances in which we got this result and we know the next races will be tough."

Perez echoed his team mate's sentiment, saying that both drivers need to be patient while the team brings developments on stream.

"We are still learning a lot about the full potential of the VJM08 and every time we hit the track we are going to find some improvements," he explained. "We are aware of the work needed to make our car more competitive, but we also know it is going to take time. The car feels really promising but it needs development and I look forward to getting some upgrades soon."

Formula1.com 

Australian GP - Race Force India Drivers Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg - 7th

“I am very pleased with today's result and starting the season with two cars in the points is always positive. It was a good race; I didn't make any mistakes and, while the reliability of our car helped us take advantage of the problems of others, at this stage in the season it is important to capitalise on any opportunity. We were ready when it counted; we had a good strategy and we delivered under the pressure. In terms of performance we are not yet where we would like to be, but everyone is working really hard to get there and make our car quicker. With points on the board we can now look forward to Malaysia in a couple of weeks and hopefully take another step forward."

Sergio Perez - 10th
“It was one of those unusual races where so many things happened, but I’m certainly happy to come away with a point and see Nico also score good points for the team. We went for a different strategy compared to Nico to maximise the team’s chances so I started on the medium tyres in order to have the advantage on the softs at the end of the race. Unfortunately, after the safety car the FIA asked me to give a place back to Ericsson, which also meant dropping behind Button, and that was really painful for my race. Button was on the soft tyres and, although I was quicker, it was not easy to overtake and I lost a lot of track position. Still, I’m focussing on the positives of scoring a point from a difficult race, which is a good result for the team."

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director
“A double points finish is a positive way to start the season and a reward for all the hard work everyone in the team produced over the winter. In a race with high attrition, we made the most of the reliability of the VJM08, which at the moment is one of our strengths. Nico completed an excellent race, without putting a wheel wrong from lights to flag; he looked in control and we were never in doubt he would score well today. Sergio had an eventful race, recovering from contact and a spin early on: he made the most of his ability to manage the tyres with a very long stint and was able to score a point. Unfortunately, Sergio had to relinquish the positions he made at the start, otherwise he would have been very close to Nico. Still, it is always good to start a season with two cars in the points and we can leave Melbourne feeling positive."

Formula1.com
 

Australian GP - Qualifying - Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg - 14th

“We always want to be further up the grid, but being realistic I don’t think we had the performance today to challenge for Q3. However, it’s only the first qualifying session of the season, so it’s still very early days and we have a lot of development work ahead of us. I enjoyed the qualifying session today: it was good fun out there and I felt comfortable in the car, and as a team we squeezed everything we could from the session. For tomorrow, I’m optimistic that our race pace will be stronger than our qualifying pace, as was often the case last year, so I’m looking forward to the race.”

Sergio Perez - 15th

“It was quite a difficult qualifying session and the windy conditions seemed to have a big impact on our car. In terms of performance, I think we are where we predicted because we knew Q2 was achievable and we managed to get the maximum from the car. For tomorrow, we know this is a race where anything can happen: it’s unpredictable and sometimes you have to be patient. We need to see what the weather is like because the wind and track temperature will play a big part. Whatever happens, I will work hard to have a competitive race and target some points.”

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director

“Having two cars in Q2 is an encouraging sign after a challenging pre-season and it is testament to the hard work everyone in the team has put in during the winter months. To have Nico and Checo within a thousandth of a second of each other shows that they really pushed the car to its limit. The midfield appears to be very close, with a very small margin between six or seven cars so I expect a very interesting race tomorrow. Traditionally our race pace has been a strength so hopefully we can take the fight to the cars ahead of us.

Formula1.com
 

Australian GP - Friday Practice - Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg FP1 - 13th; FP2 - 10th
"It was a fairly normal Friday with everything running smoothly. The long run performance was pretty good, especially the feeling and confidence I had with the car. So the balance is okay; it's just that we need to find some more performance, especially over a single lap. With almost 50 laps today I think we are quite well prepared going into the weekend."

Sergio Perez
FP1 - 12th; FP2 - 12th
"It was a day when we were able to achieve the objectives and hit our targets in terms of mileage - so that's positive. We did a lot of work with both the soft and medium tyre compounds, and I think we've already got a good understanding of how they perform. In terms of my feeling with the car, there is still a lot to improve, but it's the first day of the season and the first chance I've had to do proper performance work. There is a lot we need to learn from the data and a lot of decisions to be taken tonight."

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer
"Both cars ran reliably today and we were able to make good progress through our job list. We did some aero testing this morning, making comparisons between the two cars, which proved useful as we continue to learn about the VJM08. The drivers were happy with the general balance and we made some improvements during the day. The main focus was on our long run performance and we've got a pretty good read on where we stand relative to our competitors. For tonight we need to concentrate on further data analysis to make sure we extract the most from the cars on Saturday and especially Sunday."

Formula1.com

Australia GP - preview quotes - ForceIndia

Nico Hulkenberg
"The first race of the season is always a special occasion: a race you really look forward to for a long time. You have a new car to push to the limit in race conditions for the first time, you are often working with new people in the team and it's the first occasion to spend a race weekend with them: there is always a lot to keep you excited in addition to the regular weekend activities. As a driver, the first race is very interesting - we are as curious as anybody to see where everyone really is compared to the others.

"I haven't been very lucky in Melbourne in the past, but I have very good memories from last year's race. We finished sixth in our first race with the VJM07 - and considering that I had never managed to finish more than one lap in Australia until then, that was a quite welcome development! It was a very good race and I hope we can have another one this year."

Sergio Perez
"The Australian Grand Prix is one of my favourite races because it's one of those events in which everything comes together: the excitement of a new season, a great track and a fantastic city.

"Albert Park is a special circuit and it's great to get back to action on such a challenging track. Even though it is classified as a street circuit, it doesn't really feel like one - there are only a few corners in which you get close to the walls. Driving on it, it feels like a permanent track, although if you make a mistake you realise pretty quickly how close the walls really are!

"There are many difficult corners and it is not easy to get a perfect lap here: turn one, in particular, is very technical and difficult also because you can't really see the apex. It is a great feeling to get that corner right. In terms of set-up, you are mostly looking for front end grip and it is not easy to find the right balance for the car.

"Melbourne is the place where I had my first Formula One race. That's a great memory that will stay with me forever. It's my best memory from Melbourne so far, but I hope to refresh it with some new memories soon!"

Vijay Mallya, Force India team principal
"It's great to get back to the racing. Melbourne in March is the perfect place to begin the season and one of my favourite cities. It's also where the Force India story began eight years ago when we lined up on the starting grid of Albert Park for the very first time. Eight years and 131 races later, I feel very proud of the journey we've taken to establish our position in Formula One.

"We started our 2015 season in Mexico City six weeks ago when we launched our stunning new livery. I always thought the new colours would appeal to fans and I was very happy to see the VJM08 topping some polls on social media as the best looking car. The fans have spoken and they clearly have good taste!

"It's no secret that we have faced some delays and challenges over the winter, but we've put that behind us and can now focus on the racing. When the VJM08 appeared in Barcelona it ran reliably from the very first moment and didn't miss a beat during its 365 laps. To deliver such a solid performance out of the box was a fantastic achievement from everyone in the team and will stand us in good stead for the first race.

"As for our hopes in Melbourne, it's difficult to make a prediction. In terms of mileage we are clearly behind the other teams so there is some ground to make up. Equally, the performance work we could do in Barcelona was quite limited. Until we run in qualifying trim and race conditions it's hard to know where we are in terms of competitiveness. What I do know is that we will give it our best shot to come away with a result."

F1.com 
 

Sahara Force India welcomes Brandon as official clothing partner

The multi-year agreement will see Brandon kit out all Sahara Force India’s trackside and factory-based personnel with a range of custom-made clothing, with special emphasis on designs that are both functional and stylish.

Brandon will also use its position as a global leader in the design, development and distribution of licensed and corporate merchandise to provide fans with a wide range of replica clothing items.

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer of Sahara Force India: “It’s great to team up with Brandon and everyone at Sahara Force India is excited about the kit they are producing for us this year. The trackside clothing needs to be robust enough to cope with the demanding work carried out by our mechanics, but it’s also important to look smart and presentable because the clothes we wear say a great deal about our values. By working with Brandon I’m sure we will be one of the best dressed teams in the pit lane.”

Paul Preuveneers, Chief Executive Officer for Brandon: “We are really excited to work with Sahara Force India going forward. The team achieved some strong results in 2014 and I’m sure there are more great things to come in 2015. Brandon has a strong heritage in motorsport and we are constantly working to develop innovative products for trackside teamwear as well as merchandise for fans. We’re proud to work with the Sahara Force India team and look forward to building this relationship together.”

About Brandon
Brandon, established since 1987, produces and distributes licensed and corporate merchandise throughout the world. Being particularly strong in the Motorsport sector by maximizing opportunities within the mono-branded fanwear and teamwear arena, Brandon’s successes are evident within global retail channels, trackside retail stands and via team affiliates. Being a wholly owned division of PUMA, Brandon leverage their vast global network of sourcing and distribution channels to deliver a 360 supply model to some of the highest profile brands within F1 and Football.

Forceindiaf1.com 
 

Sahara Force India works with Adaptavist to fine-tune its IT systems

The relationship will give Sahara Force India access to the world’s most technically-advanced Atlassian partner. Working with Adaptavist will enhance the team’s ability to find, share and collaborate on information. The team will also benefit from Adaptavist’s experience and knowledge of issue tracking, code management and the optimisation of the application lifecycle - an important toolset required to continually produce car components race after race. Adaptavist are world-renowned for their Atlassian performance tuning expertise, helping clients get the most from Atlassian software.
Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer of Sahara Force India: “Working with Adaptavist will ensure we get the most from our internal IT resources. The efficient sharing of information is essential for the success of any organisation and with the help of Adaptavist we can extract more power from the software we have in place.”
Simon Haighton-Williams, CEO of Adaptavist: “We’re really excited to be supporting Sahara Force India and to be involved in Formula One, which is perhaps the most intense of all sporting environments. The process of designing, manufacturing and operating a prototype racing car is a huge challenge, especially when managing the unique lifecycle of car components. It’s in this area that our solutions can play a part in providing reliable software to further enhance the team’s operational efficiency.”
About Adaptavist
Established in 2005, Adaptavist is an IT services company with operations in the USA, Germany and the UK with clients in more than 60 countries. It provides premium professional services, support, hosting and products to a range of Enterprise clients including over half of the Fortune 500.

Adaptavist is an Atlassian Platinum Partner, Atlassian Enterprise Expert and an Atlassian Authorised Training Expert. The company has been working with Atlassian software since 2005 and is officially recognised as Atlassian’s most Technically Excellent Expert Partner, receiving the award from Atlassian President Jay Simon.

Forceindiaf1.com 
 

Sahara Force India welcomes Skullcandy to Formula One

 

The multi-year deal will see Skullcandy supply the team with headphones for use during the season, while the Skullcandy logo will be visible on the rear element of the side pod and on all garage headsets. From a product development standpoint, getting exposure to how Sahara Force India works on extremely compressed schedules with high performance parts also represents a unique opportunity for Skullcandy. Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer of Sahara Force India: “Skullcandy is a fun, exciting brand and it’s a real pleasure to begin working with them. Their desire to develop products that combine style and performance makes Formula One the perfect environment to showcase their brand. With a distinctive combination of colour and character, as well as outstanding audio quality, the Skullcandy range will appeal to all our supporters, especially the younger generation.” Sam Paschel, Chief Commercial Officer of Skullcandy: “We couldn’t be more excited about our partnership with Sahara Force India, which allows us to align with one of the most thrilling and exciting sports in the world. The dedication and focus that it takes to compete and excel in F1 demonstrates many of our core values and is a natural fit with the Skullcandy brand and our commitment to make products that help people live and perform at their full potential. On the product side, working with Sahara Force India is inspiring because the team is constantly operating in a highly competitive industry with great emphasis on innovation and efficiency. Being involved in this environment will feed our own learning as we engineer and develop a wider range of products and continue to innovate in the audio space.” About Skullcandy, Inc.
Skullcandy is a global designer, marketer and distributor of performance audio and gaming headphones and other accessory related products under the Skullcandy, Astro Gaming and 2XL by Skullcandy brands. Skullcandy became one of the world's most distinct audio brands by bringing color, character and performance to an otherwise monochromatic space; helping to revolutionize the audio arena by introducing headphones, earbuds and other audio and wireless lifestyle products that possess unmistakable style and exceptional performance. The Company’s products are sold and distributed through a variety of channels in the U.S. and approximately 80 countries worldwide. Visit skullcandy.com, or join us at facebook.com/skullcandy or on Twitter @skullcandy.

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Barcelona Test Report, 1 March 2015

Sergio Perez #11
Chassis: VJM08-01
Laps: 130 laps
Mileage: 605km
Fastest lap: 1:25.113
Classification: P6 of 9
Sergio Perez: “My first day in the car has been a good one, with a very high number of laps and a good atmosphere in the team. It's no secret that we have some catch-up to do but I am optimistic: the team has a clear direction to work towards and we have been able to collect a large amount of data in such a short time, which will help all those working back at base. Every run we do, here or at the races, teaches us a lot and moves us closer to where we want to be. Now we must focus on Melbourne: I am really excited about going racing again, the first race of the season is always a special one and one to which you really look forward since the end of the previous season."
Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer
"Our pre-season testing comes to an end with a solid 130 laps. Today was Sergio's first day in the VJM08 and, as he got accustomed to the new car, we continued our work of understanding its behaviour, trying various setups in both performance and long runs. All we have done in these tests in Barcelona will help us prepare for Melbourne, and even though we may arrive with less mileage than others, we have gathered lots of valuable data. We are making rapid progress with the car and we have a lot of material to analyse back at the factory ahead of the first flyaways. This last week's work highlights the spirit of this team: credit must go to everyone involved with the design, manufacturing and assembly of the car. It has been a massive effort from everyone in the team and to get so many laps is testament to the great work done by all."

Forceindiaf1.com 
 

Barcelona Test Report, 28 February 2015

Nico Hülkenberg #27
Chassis: VJM08-01
Laps: 158 laps
Mileage: 735km
Fastest lap: 1:24.939
Classification: P7 of 9
Nico Hülkenberg: “It was a very positive day in terms of reliability and getting a lot of mileage under our belts. It was our first full day of testing so our main focus remained on getting to know the car, the way we set it up and its characteristics. I think we made some good progress in this regard and we managed to get a decent understanding of how the VJM08 feels under different conditions. That's definitely a positive, although it remains very hard to judge where everyone is in terms of performance. Next time I will step in the car will be in Melbourne: I am very excited to fly to Australia as that's when you get the racing feeling again. I am really looking forward to getting going and being back in a competition; that is something I relish. Hopefully the work we did in the last few weeks will pay off and we will be in a position for fight for a good result."
Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer
"It was another solid day of testing with the VJM08, which is proving to be a very reliable car so far: the plan we had set for ourselves today was very ambitious but we managed to achieve all its main points. We have taken another big step in our process of understanding the performance of the car and we were able to work through both performance runs and longer stints. Track temperatures were not ideal as they were very much on the cool side, but we still learnt a lot and gathered a significant amount of data to analyse tonight. It was Nico's last day in the car before heading off to Melbourne: the work he completed today will help us ensure we make the most of our final day in the car tomorrow as Sergio steps in the cockpit for the first time."

Forceindiaf1.com 
 

Barcelona Test Report, 27 February 2015

Nico Hülkenberg #27
Chassis: VJM08-01
Laps: 77 laps
Mileage: 358km
Fastest lap: 1:28.412
Classification: P9 of 9
Nico Hülkenberg: “It was a very good day, at least in terms of the running we managed to do. We were able to run reliably straight out of the box and that is very encouraging. The boys and girls at the factory and here at the track have been pushing really hard in the last couple of weeks and to do 77 laps in little more than one afternoon is a remarkable job by the team. Obviously we still have a big task ahead of us and we are playing catch-up in certain aspects, but I am quite satisfied so far. The car feels pretty good, although making a direct comparison with our 2014 car is not easy as the conditions in winter testing are always very particular. One of our team's strengths is to learn about the car quickly, so we will need to get as much data as possible to get in a good position for Melbourne. Tomorrow we will be looking at doing more long runs, working with the various tyre compounds and putting more mileage on the car."

Tom McCullough, Chief Race Engineer
"It has been a real big effort from all the staff back at the factory to get the car ready and out here for this test. Managing to run our installation laps before the lunch break was very useful and helped us achieve a solid first day with the VJM08. These are the very early stages of the VJM08's running and it is encouraging to get 77 laps on the board: we could have got even more mileage hadn't it been for the red flags at the end of the day. Today was all about achieving a first understanding of the new car and to run this long allowed us to collect a sizeable amount of very valuable data. We will go through it tonight and it will help us prepare for what is hopefully going to be another productive day tomorrow."

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