Force India certain of design integrity

The Force India Formula 1 team's reliability and design integrity has not been compromised by its two failures at the Hungarian Grand Prix, says deputy team principal Bob Fernley.

The team introduced a B-spec car at the British Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg giving the machine a double-points scoring debut.

But the Hungarian GP weekend was tougher. Perez rolled the car in first practice after a right-rear suspension failure and Hulkenberg crashed during the race after his front wing failed.

Force India identified the problem that afflicted Perez and introduced a fix for the following day and Fernley echoed chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer's belief the team will find a fix for the issue on Hulkenberg's car.

When asked if he was completely confident there will be no repeat, Fernley told 
AUTOSPORT: "Completely.

"Reliability and design integrity are two of the key strengths of Force India, and I don't think that has been compromised.

"It's just unfortunate it was a weekend when we had a couple of incidents that were high profile."

There are three-and-a-half weeks until the next race, which takes place in Belgium, and Fernley is confident that will give the team enough time for a complete analysis into the incidents, despite the mandatory two-week factory shutdown falling within that period.

"We'll have those all finished off this week, and we don't expect anything major," he said.

"We can expect a slight strengthening of the parts in different areas and then we will be fine."

Autosport.com

Hulkenberg sure Force India can fix car issues

Nico Hulkenberg believes his Force India Formula 1 team will get to the bottom of the dramatic front wing failure that caused his Hungarian Grand Prix crash.

The German hit the barriers at Turn 1 when his front wing failed at high speed and it was the team's second big accident of the weekend after Sergio Perez rolled in practice following a suspension failure.

Force India believes both failures were caused by big vibrations from riding over the Hungaroring kerbs for too long.

Hulkenberg, who was on course to score points, said he was confident the team could solve the problems before the next race at Spa at the end of August.

"It's two different issues we had over the weekend and it's not good," he said.

"I'm sure the team will work hard on how to understand it and get some fixings in place.

"I've no doubt our boys will fix it come Spa. We have some time to analyse and fix it.

"The situation is what it is and we just have to deal with it as best we can."

Despite following up a run of two consecutive double-points finishes with a double retirement in Hungary, Force India retained fifth place in the constructors' championship.

And Hulkenberg remains hopeful the team can be competitive in the second-half of the season.

"I go on holiday with the feeling the second half of the season is going to be very good because we've improved the car significantly," he said.

"I really enjoy driving the car and we are competitive.

"In Budapest we were battling with Williams and Red Bull, which is really, really good.

"I'm enjoying myself at the moment and I'm looking forward to the second half of the season."

Autosport.com 
 

Kerbs likely cause of Hulkenberg crash

Force India believes Nico Hulkenberg's dramatic front wing failure in the Hungarian Grand Prix was probably caused by vibrations over kerbs at the Hungaroring Formula 1 circuit.
Hulkenberg crashed out of the race at Turn 1 when his front wing failed at high speed, sending him into the tyre wall.

It was the second big accident of the weekend for Force India, after Sergio Perez rolled in free practice following a suspension failure from running over the kerbs too much.

Force India will investigate Hulkenberg's failure, but the team's chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer reckons it was also caused by the kerbs.

"We're investigating how and why it failed and I think it's got something to do with the unique inputs the car gets here over the kerbs and the rumble strips," Szafnauer told AUTOSPORT.

"We don't test anywhere else like this so you can't just test and say you'll be fine there [in Hungary].

"This is the only circuit like this, and Ferrari had a front wing failure too [with Kimi Raikkonen in practice], and Kimi also lost a camera pod in the race.

"That's all down to vibrations and how you mount the parts."

Szafnauer added changes may need to be made to the kerbs, but Force India will also strengthen its parts.

"Whether they change [the circuit] or we change the car to suit, you've got to do one of the two," he said.

"We've not had anything like this before, and it's tough because the pace of the car has really improved.

"We can definitely fix this and come back and be reliable. The wishbone is already fixed and we'll fix the wing."

Hulkenberg was battling with the Red Bulls - which both finished on the podium - earlier in the race, and Force India feels it let a very good result slip away.
 
"To have something like this happen when there are opportunities for us and to not take it, that's tough," said Szafnauer.

"When Nico's wing failed we were ahead of Kvyat - I don't think Kvyat was ahead of us the whole race.

"Could we have kept him behind us? Nico thinks maybe, maybe not.

"I hate to say we'd have been on the podium, but we were there or thereabouts with Kvyat."

Force India changed Perez's front wing mid-race as a precaution, and the Mexican retired from the race due to a long brake pedal late-on. 

Autosport.com 

HungarianGP - Race - Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, DNF

“It’s a shame we lost the opportunity to get a great result today. I didn’t have much warning that there was a problem with the front wing - there was a harsh vibration just before it broke and after that I was heading straight into the barriers. The final impact was not too bad because that part of the track is well protected and it absorbed the energy nicely. Up until the accident, things were looking very positive: I had made a great start and was racing with the Red Bulls, which shows the step forward we have made with the b-spec car. The good news is that we have time over the next week to analyse what happened today and get the solutions in place before the summer break. Reliability has been a real strength of ours this season so it’s unusual for us to have these issues and the team will do its homework before we arrive in Spa. I go into the summer break knowing that we are competitive and that we can have a strong second half of the season.”

Sergio Perez, DNF

“It was a really tough weekend for us, from the Friday to the Sunday. We have a lot of reasons to be disappointed about the race because I feel we could have scored some really big points. The first few laps were very strong and we made up a lot of positions, but the contact with Pastor [Maldonado] compromised my race. I was as cautious around him as I could be and left him plenty of room but unfortunately it wasn't enough. After that, getting points was always going to be a challenge and ultimately some brake issues put an end to our race. Looking at the positives, up until the clash with Pastor the car performed very strongly and this gives me the confidence we can really challenge for good results in the second part of the season.”

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer

“It has been a difficult day and it’s disappointing to come away from Budapest empty-handed. Nico was on course for a good helping of points until he suffered an issue with the front wing on the approach to turn one. We are still looking into what caused the wing to break, but the most important thing is that Nico is perfectly okay. Sergio’s afternoon suffered after Maldonado made contact with him after Sergio had passed him going into turn one. That incident cost us a lot of time and resulted in some damage to the right side of Sergio’s car. As the race continued, he was suffering with a long brake pedal and we had to retire the car. Sometimes in racing things don’t go your way and this was certainly an unlucky weekend. We will regroup ahead of Spa and come back stronger for the second half of the season.”

Formula1.com 
 

Hungarian GP - Qualifying - Force India Quotes

P11 Nico Hülkenberg VJM08-01
Q1: 1:24.115
Q2: 1:23.826
Nico: “It’s been quite a difficult weekend for the team, but I have to give credit to the way they have handled the situation and fixed it. The main penalty of yesterday was losing the track time and maybe with more set-up time we would have been able to make it through to Q3 today. The other key factor in the qualifying session was the red flag, which caught me out because I was on my first quick lap and had to abort it. So I only had one lap to get the job done and I just missed out by two hundredths of a second. Despite the limited track time, I feel quite happy and confident in the car, and I think we can perform well tomorrow. Points are still an achievable target.”

---

P13 Sergio Perez VJM08-02
Q1: 1:24.444
Q2: 1:24.461

Sergio: “It hasn't been the easiest of weekends so far. I was very optimistic on Friday, before the accident, but what happened has affected us quite a lot. We have lost some of the new upgrades that we had brought to the race – parts that were working really well and were making a big difference. When we got back out on track this morning, I wasn’t particularly happy with the aero balance of the car, which has been quite unpredictable. Hopefully looking at the data tonight will help us figure out a way to fix it ahead of the race. Despite these challenges, I am still optimistic we can have a good race and fight our way into the points.”

---

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer
“I think we can be satisfied with P11 and P13 on the grid, especially after the events of Friday and the general lack of mileage. Everyone in the team has done a fantastic job over the last 24 hours to understand and solve the suspension issues we experienced yesterday and put the necessary solutions in place. Equally, the task of rebuilding Sergio’s car required a huge effort from the mechanics in the garage and, as always, they did a magnificent job without breaking the curfew. Nonetheless, we have been on the back foot today and that’s probably cost us a few positions on the grid. We’re still reasonably well placed and we expect the car to be competitive tomorrow. It would be good to end the first half of the season with some more points to consolidate our fifth place in the constructors’ championship.”

Forceindiaf1.com 
 

Force India F1 team unsure of cause of Sergio Perez's crash

Force India is still unsure of the cause of the suspension problem that led to Sergio Perez's crash during Formula 1 practice at the Hungaroring, as the investigation continues into the night. 

Perez suffered a failure in the right-rear suspension on the run out of Turn 11, which pitched him into the barrier on the inside of the track. 
 
He then rebounded and rolled after the right-front wheel folded under the front of the car and pitched him into the air as a result of damage suffered in the impact. 

Force India parked the other car of Nico Hulkenberg for the rest of the first session and also opted to sit out second practice.

It is still examining the failure before confirming its return to the track tomorrow. 

"We are still trying to find out," said Perez an hour after the end of practice. 

"We can see on the video that the rear suspension kind of bent out, so we are still analysing with the factory to make sure that we can run for the next days.

"When I look back into Turn 9, I had a little bit of a snap but I think it was just because of the overheating of the tyres and a lack of grip and they [the team] can't see anything in the loads there. 

"We can see from the video that there is some strange movement on the upper [part] of the suspension but we haven't confirmed what has happened and are still working to see what the real issue is."

Perez, who suffered no injuries in the accident and will be fit to return to action this weekend, has no concerns about car safety if the team does give the green light to continue running. 

"They are working on that solution," he said. "My trust is 100 per cent in the team. 

"If they decide that we run, then we are ready."

Perez added that F1 should investigate the fact that the car rolled as a result of the deranged wheel folding under the car. 

This is partly a consequence of wheel-tether technology designed to prevent the wheel running free, which Perez stresses is something that F1 is right to ensure does not happen.

"What happened to me is something we can learn from," he said. 

"We should definitely analyse my accident and see if there is something we can improve, but you don't want to have [loose] wheels going around the track."

Autosport.com 

Hungary GP - Friday - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg
FP1 - 13th, FP2 - DNS
“It’s difficult to say much following such a short day. I felt the car was working quite well, but my first run wasn't particularly smooth and my second run was brought to an end with the red flag. It means we will have a bit more work to do in the morning and we will be limited on data. Hopefully the team can find a solution to the issue on Sergio’s car.”

Sergio Perez
FP1 - 8th, FP2 - DNS
“It was a very positive session up until the accident. We managed to get a good read on the balance and made some useful set-up changes that took us in the right direction. Unfortunately we had the failure on the rear suspension, which ended our day early. It has cost us a lot of track time, but hopefully we can recover tomorrow to minimise the impact it will have on our final result this weekend. I still believe we can have a strong qualifying session so I’m optimistic for the rest of the weekend.”

Otmar Szafnauer, Chief Operating Officer
“It’s been a challenging day as we try to understand the right rear suspension failure on Sergio’s car. The accident cut short our morning and we opted to withdraw from the afternoon session as a precaution until we had a clear understanding of the problem. Those investigations remain ongoing and will continue this evening to ensure we can resume running on Saturday. Up until the accident, the morning had looked quite promising for both drivers. We had some aero measurement devices fitted to the cars and carried out some work with the medium tyres. Losing the afternoon puts us on the back foot, but I’m optimistic we can recover some of the lost ground tomorrow to be ready for qualifying.”

Formula1.com 

Hungary GP - Preview - Force Indian Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg

“I've always had good memories of racing in Hungary, ever since I first raced there in 2009 in GP2. It’s an unusual track with a tight and twisty layout. You have to find your rhythm because all the corners flow into each other and it’s easy to lose your momentum with just a small mistake. Away from the track it’s always a popular race with everyone in the paddock. The weather is usually hot and sunny, and the city is beautiful with lots of cool places to explore.
“The last race at Silverstone was a lot of fun. I’m very pleased with the b-spec update and happy with our performance across the whole weekend. After the first couple of laps in the new car I knew we had made a step in the right direction and I had a smile on my face. We obviously need to keep exploring our package, but it was satisfying to get a good result at the team’s home race.
“The engineers have spent the last couple of weeks digging deep into the data because we can’t afford to stand still. We need to keep pushing in this direction and getting more performance from the car. There’s a good feeling in the team and I think we can be competitive again this weekend. The low and medium-speed corners should suit us and the tyre choices are a bit softer than Silverstone, which should help us.”

Sergio Perez

“The Hungarian Grand Prix is always a cool event. The fans are very enthusiastic and they show lots of support for all the drivers. It's definitely an enjoyable weekend in a very historic city.
“The track itself is very technical: you need good traction to exit the low-speed corners and you have to be very accurate and precise. Because it's so twisty, it feels like you are always in a corner and it’s not easy to follow other cars or overtake, so a good qualifying result becomes even more important. It's also quite demanding on the tyres, so it's important to look after them when you can.
“It's the last race before the summer holidays and getting a strong result in Hungary is always a nice boost. I'm feeling optimistic that we can go there and race for some good points, especially with the performance step we made at Silverstone. We are still learning about the new car, but I feel there is great potential to get some special results before the end of the year.”

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal

“We head to Budapest in a sombre mood after the events of the weekend. The thoughts of everyone at Sahara Force India are with the friends and family of Jules Bianchi. We had the pleasure of working with Jules during 2012 and he left a strong impression on everyone in the team. We came to know an outstanding young man and a tremendous talent who was destined for great things in Formula One. The world has lost a true racer and we have all lost a friend.
“It will be hard to get back to business, but we go to Hungary looking to build on our competitive showing at Silverstone. The debut of the b-spec car met our expectations and has delivered the performance step we anticipated. It’s a boost for everyone in the team and we are moving in a good direction for the second half of the season. Over the next few races we will work hard to extract even more performance and build on this momentum.
“The double points finish at Silverstone has consolidated our fifth place in the championship. We’ve picked up 28 points from the last four races and there is a good opportunity to score more points in Budapest. At the start of the year we said we would target fifth place in the standings and that’s certainly an achievable goal. We are now looking at the teams ahead of us and will try and close the gap further.”

Formula1.com 
 

Perez surprised by Lotus struggles

Sergio Perez believes Lotus are a major threat to Force India's bid for fifth in the constructors' championship, even though he has been taken aback by their difficulties in converting promise into points in 2015.

 

Perez says Force India's own calculations have pointed towards Lotus's E23 Hybrid having an outright performance edge on their VJM08 - at least before the wide-ranging upgrades his team introduced at Silverstone.

"I am surprised, because when we see all the simulations they seem to be half a second a lap quicker than us - but for some reason, some reliability issues, they haven't been able to exploit their full potential," commented the Mexican.

Lotus suffered a double retirement in Silverstone, and as a result lie sixth in the current standings on 29 points, 10 behind Force India. Nevertheless, Perez is certain his team's Enstone rivals - along with Toro Rosso - will prove their most serious competition in the battle for fifth overall.  

"I think they're a big threat," he continued. "And Toro Rosso obviously have a mega car, [so] they are the two main ones. With people bringing upgrades every race, it really depends when you look, but Lotus and Toro Rosso should be our target to beat."

Perez stressed, however, that Force India aren't simply looking over their shoulders - and that they will do their utmost to overhaul fourth-placed Red Bull if the revisions to their car prove a success over the coming races.

"I think Red Bull should still be our target, to try and chase them in the points," he said. "If the upgrade goes well, then we should definitely aim for them.

"Basically our limitations have been the rear end of the car, in the quick corners. We expect to improve that, improve the entry - and improving that means everything comes together.

"You have more harmony with the car, and can extract the best out of it more easily. If we can have a bit better pace, that will come together with better tyre degradation and so on.

"There are plenty of things to look forward to: with an upgrade you don't just improve lap time, you improve so many things that have a benefit over a race weekend."

With nine rounds of the season complete, Perez's best 2015 result to date has been seventh place in Monaco. He has scored points on four other occasions and sits 12th in the driver standings.

Formula1.com 

 

British GP - Race-Force India Driver quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, 7th
“That was an entertaining afternoon and it’s great to come away from our home race with a good bunch of points. My start was sensational – maybe the best I ever had in Formula One – and I rocketed up to fifth place ahead of the two Ferraris. I was able to keep them behind me for the first stint, but they had too much pace and were able to use the strategy to jump us by pitting early. When the rain arrived at the end of the race the track was very slippery. I was a bit unfortunate with the timing because I had just passed the pit lane entry when the rain became really heavy and I had to do a full lap before I could change to intermediates. Overall, though, I think seventh place is a great result and we should be satisfied. A lot of the performance today is down to the updates we brought here. It’s moved us in the right direction so I have to say a big well done to the team.”

Sergio Perez, 9th
“Finishing with both cars in the points at Silverstone is a very positive step for the team. We probably could have been even higher up, but the strategy didn’t really work out in my favour. After my first stop, I lost a position to Sainz and I spent a few laps stuck behind him when my tyres were at their best. I was in the dirty air and struggling with the front tyres, which had a lot of graining. When the second rain shower came we had a lot of discussions over the radio about what call to make and unfortunately we waited too long, which cost us a place. When you get opportunities and you don't make the best of them you are obviously disappointed, but I think we should focus on the positives of this weekend. We’ve shown good progress and there is a lot of potential for the second half of the season.”

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal & Managing Director
“To score eight points in our home race and strengthen our hold on fifth place in the championship is a fantastic achievement. Historically we’ve never been especially strong on the high-speed layout of Silverstone, but today the updated VJM08 looked competitive in all weather conditions. This track provides a tough test of a Formula One car so I’m optimistic we can keep up the momentum as we enter the second half of the season. Both Nico and Sergio drove exceptionally well today; they kept out of trouble and coped well with the changeable conditions. It wasn’t easy to know when to pit for intermediate tyres because some parts of the track were wet and some were dry, but I think we made the right decisions with the information we had.”

Formula1.com 

BritishGP - Qualifying - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, 9th
“I enjoyed today. Silverstone is one of those fun tracks, especially on low fuel with new tyres, and I’m feeling satisfied with our performance. My laps were clean and tidy, and it was a smooth session. The updates we brought here are working really well and without them I don’t think it would have been possible to be in the top ten today. So from that perspective I’m very happy because we know there is more to come as we explore and learn about our car. For this weekend, the long run pace has looked competitive, but the cars ahead of me also look very quick and we will have to work hard to come away with points.”

Sergio Perez, 11th
“I am disappointed to have missed out on Q3 because the car was definitely capable of making the cut. I was expecting to be in the top ten, but in the end I missed out by a couple of hundredths, which was unfortunate. The weekend so far has been a bit of a struggle for me, trying different options with the set-up and getting used to the new car. The b-spec car is a big step forward, but we are still exploring the limits of what it can do. When we understand it fully, I think there is great potential. For the race tomorrow, I think we can be competitive. Eleventh place is not a bad place to start and I think we can fight well from there to get some points.”

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director
“To be starting our home race in ninth and eleventh places is a very solid effort by the team. Nico continued his strong qualifying form by making Q3 for the third race in a row. Checo hasn’t been as happy with the set-up of his car, but he performed well today and lines up just a couple of places behind his teammate. In the days leading up to this weekend, we have pushed incredibly hard to deliver our b-spec car and I’m happy to see the updates delivering the step forward we anticipated. It means we are well-placed going into tomorrow’s race with a good chance of scoring some important points.”

Formula1.com 
 

Exclusive Nico Hulkenberg Q&A - Silverstone will reveal Force India’s 2015 fate

It’s safe to say that the last few weeks have been nothing short of sensational for Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg - not only did he score an incredible debut victory for Porsche in the punishing Le Mans 24 hours - his first win in any category since 2009 - but he followed it up with a season-high sixth place finish in Austria. As a result the German is once again hot property - and with Force India bringing a promising set of updates to their car for this weekend’s race at Silverstone, things could be about to get even better…

Q: Nico, how does it feel to realise that you have not forgotten how to win a race?
Nico Hulkenberg: Ha, it was mind-blowing! My last win was 2009, so I had a long dry period! To be on the podium again, to hear your national anthem and see people cheering for you – that made me realise how much I’ve missed these moments in the last few years. Because [these moments] are why you get up in the morning. It is a huge push in motivation.
Q: Having done so well, did you get yourself a nice treat?
NH: Ah. (pause) I bought a car. A Porsche…
Q: Winning a race like Le Mans can be something of a life-changing experience, as everybody loves a winner. Are you now bombarded with cockpit options for 2016?
NH: No, not really! Yes, the echo that I received was great – even from my driver colleagues. They were all very curious. And of course it reads very well in my CV: Le Mans winner, 2015

Q: But there are many rumours about possible cockpit changes, with the future of Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari the subject of much of the speculation. The latest rumour is that should Kimi leave, Valtteri Bottas would move to Ferrari and you’d move back to Williams to take his seat. What is reality?
NH: To be honest in this game you are always as sexy as your last result. And I had a few good races lately so people tend to put me in different seats now. But I think that’s happening to half of the drivers right now. For me there is no point adding to the speculation. Of course I am working on my career and my future and trying to keep the momentum – and that will be the best advertising for me. Then when the time is ready I will see what happens.

Q: The last race in Austria saw an unleashed Nico Hülkenberg. Can sailing on the tailwind of a super result be translated directly into time gain? It was the same old car – but obviously a new you…
NH: I don’t know if you can translate that directly into time gain. It is probably something that happens in your head: that confidence and a kind of laid-back [attitude] makes you wait for luck to come your way instead of pursuing if forcefully. It’s about a good flow.

Q: Can you talk us through that last race? Were you been surprised that it worked out that well without any upgrades? Force India seemed to jump up the pecking order in just one race…
NH: Well, we did a very good race. We had good car performance all weekend long. Austria is a power track from the engine point of view. We had the soft tyres and didn’t do any mistakes. We were able to pull it off when we needed to. I know that sounds simple – but it is not. It has something to do with the oldest secret in the book: hard work!

Q: But still it remains a bit of a mystery, as it was the same car that you’ve been struggling with since pretty much the start of the season…
NH: …pretty much the same, yes!

Q: But how is that possible to have such a change in the car?
NH: I would say that a few parameters played to our advantage. It was an engine matter in Austria and the use of soft and supersoft tyres favoured us – and it wasn’t very windy. We always have issues in windy conditions. All positives came together.

Q: Silverstone will see the introduction of the ‘B-Spec’ VJM08. Isn’t it a bit of an irony to change everything now that you appear to have made your peace with the car?
NH: We are quite confident that we will make a good step forward. With the Austrian spec car we definitely would suffer here. So we definitely need updates to make us competitive here – and at the tracks to come in the second half of the season. This weekend is very important for us, as it will set the direction of our fate for the rest of the season.

Q: What is different?
NH: It is a radical change. It is a change of the aero philosophy. From the middle to the rear you will see it with your own eyes. Even fans in the grandstands will immediately see the difference! The bodywork underneath also saw some major changes, like the suspension and so on. It is a radical change to the car – and hopefully to our performance as well.

Q: Will it work straightaway at Silverstone?
NH: That is the idea! But it is also common that if you bring updates they need a bit of time to sink in. Two or three practice sessions are probably not enough to evaluate the whole package. Usually with more running you find the sweet spot.

Q: After your Le Mans success, some have suggested that your future should now be in the World Endurance Championship. What’s your say?
NH: Ha, was it anybody who wants my cockpit? (laughs) To be honest: not right now. I still have unfinished business here. I came here with the dream to become world champion – and that has not changed. I am still chasing that: I don’t feel too old or think that I am running out of time.

Q: That leads directly to the question: if you still hang on to the dream of becoming a world champion – where would that be?
NH: Ha, nice try! Where – that is secondary! (laughs) We all know that if you want to win the title you have to sit in the right car. Right now I’m exploring my options. The ‘silly season’ is slowly coming into gear but I will stay put, work quietly in the back and see where I come out in the end. That’s the plan.

Q: But there are talks – with Force India and some other teams…
NH: All I’ll say: I am working on my future. Quietly in the back…

Q: Bernie Ecclestone promised Max Verstappen that the 2017 rule changes will move the driver back into the centre again: less PlayStation and more driving, less chit-chat from the pit wall and louder engines again. What would be your wish if you could post one?
NH: If I could have three wishes free: make [the cars] louder, faster and more aggressive again
Formula1.com 
 

British GP - Friday Practice - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg
FP1 - 9th, FP2 - 8th
“It was a smooth Friday, with no dramas, and overall a pretty positive day. When you get a new package, that’s just what you need and we were able to complete good mileage. We found performance straight away: from the very first run I had a positive feeling and that's an encouraging sign. With new parts on the car, there is always a steep learning curve, so we will need to pore over the data tonight to find some more margins to optimise, but I am really optimistic. The red flag compromised our long runs so we didn't get as much data as we wanted there, but we still got enough to put ourselves in a good position.”
Sergio Perez
FP1 - 12th, FP2 - 13th
“I think we can be happy with what has been a very positive start with the b-spec car. We got good mileage today so there is plenty to analyse and learn, but I feel we have definitely taken a step forward, which is what this team was expecting. It is always a complex task to learn about all the new parts in just a couple of sessions, but by the last run of the session, I was feeling comfortable, and that’s promising for the race. Qualifying will be interesting because there are many directions in which we can go and we'll need to choose the right one.”
Vijay Mallya, Team Principal & Managing Director
“Today was a crucial day with the arrival of our b-spec car and a lot of new parts to test. We had both mechanical and aerodynamic upgrades, and this was the first chance to evaluate them altogether. We had to contend with a lot of wind out on track, which obviously affects both the running and the data acquisition, but we still managed to gather all the information that our very comprehensive test plan required. We have a big task ahead of us, going through the data and analysing it to maximise what we get out of this new package. Both drivers were positive about the car, which is a good sign, although we also know it will take time to fully optimise things and make the drivers totally comfortable. Overall, the first impression is that the package is a step forward.”

Formula1.com 

Force India: Season starts in Britain

This weekend's British Grand Prix marks the point when Force India's 2015 Formula 1 season will truly begin, according to deputy team principal Bob Fernley.

Delays with manufacturing of this year's chassis plus a switch of windtunnels meant the team took the decision to unveil a launch car rooted in the 2014 design before introducing a B-spec model later in the season.

Following a successful two-day test at the Red Bull Ring with further elements of the upgrade, the full package will make its competitive debut at Silverstone.

"I think it is the start of our season really," Fernley told AUTOSPORT.

"We've done the initial reorganisation and restructuring of the aero department.

"This will be the first time that we'll be able to get what we wanted to deliver out on the circuit.

"If that all works and delivers a reasonable step for us then we're very pleased."

Fernley said Friday practice at Silverstone will be busy for the team as it plans to complete its final correlation and verification processes.

"There will be a process of bringing it all together," said Fernley.

"The key thing is that we have got the mechanical side nailed and it's been signed off."

If all goes smoothly with the latest package, Fernley said the team hopes to introduce a further update after the summer break.

"It will be Spa or Monza," said Fernley. "That's contingent on everything working at Silverstone.

"We have an aggressive development programme."

Autosport.com
 

Perez cautious on revised Force India

Sergio Perez has warned that Force India’s upgraded VJM08 is unlikely to be radically faster initially, though both he and the team are extremely optimistic about its longer-term potential. The product of a new aerodynamic philosophy and wind tunnel, the heavily revised car will run for the first time at Silverstone on Friday.

 The team have already trialled various parts of the upgrade over previous Grand Prix weekends, as well as in last week’s post-race Austria test, with Perez describing the results as ‘promising’. The Mexican warned, however, that a significant jump forward shouldn’t be expected instantly - particularly as the British circuit does not traditionally play to Force India’s strengths.

“I think the whole team has been waiting so much for this upgrade - it is the first upgrade basically for the year,” Perez said on Thursday ahead of the 2015 Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

“We are all very optimistic. The numbers look promising, but at the same time we are realistic: anyone in the paddock will tell you an upgrade is not just putting it on the car and getting on with it. It needs some processes, some work to get the maximum out of it, and it will take time.

“There are plenty of [new] parts - the floor, some parts of the rear, new wings, even the chassis. It’s all the airflow quality we are trying to improve. I’m sure when you see the cars running you might not recognise it.

“With our original car, we were going to struggle massively here. Don’t forget we come from an engine track, where we see some benefits from having a Mercedes power unit. So here we should see progress, I’m sure about it. But at a track like this, just closing the gap - and fighting with those in front - will be a big step forward.”

Perez noted that getting lots of running on Friday will be crucial to the team’s weekend prospects, saying: “We need mileage to move on - so we will have plenty of work to do on both cars.

“We have to understand the car, the characteristics, how to drive it and how to explore the best in terms of set-up and everything - that is crucial for us.”

Force India lie fifth in the constructors’ standings going into the Silverstone round on 31 points, two ahead of Lotus in sixth, and 24 behind fourth-placed Red Bull.

Formula1.com 
 

 

 

 

British GP - Preview - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg
"I'm really looking forward to Silverstone – the team's home race. We go there with a lot of momentum following the strong performance in Austria where we really maximised everything. The circuit suited us, of course, but the field was really close and it was up to us to get a good result, which we did. Finishing sixth was probably the maximum we could get from the race and to come away with a good bunch of points was very satisfying. I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the upgraded VJM08 at Silverstone, which will give us the first impression of what we can expect in the second half of the season. 
"Silverstone is one of the best races on the calendar. The fans are great and it's hard to find an empty seat anywhere. The atmosphere is buzzing and that always gives me an extra boost. I usually go to the campsites to see the fans and it's great to see everybody having such a good time. Because it's our home race, I also get to spend more time at the factory with the team members who don't usually go to races. As a circuit, Silverstone gives you a great feeling when you're driving, especially in the fast corners: to get a good lap together on such a difficult track is an amazing feeling."

Sergio Perez
"The last two races have been a bit difficult for me, but we still managed to come away with points in Austria and it was a great performance by the team. With the arrival of our upgrade package in Silverstone, it's going to be an important and busy weekend for the team as we try to get all the new parts working together.
"I really like the Silverstone track, with its fast and flowing corners, which are great fun to drive. There is a lot of history and you feel there is something special from the moment you arrive at the circuit. I always performed well there in the early part of my career and I would love to pick up some points this weekend.
"Having our factory next to the circuit makes this a special race for the team. It's a busy one too with lots going on with all our partners and events for the staff. I used to live close to the track - in Oxford – when I was racing in Formula Three, so this used to be my home race for a while and I still have a lot of friends in the area, which makes the week very enjoyable."

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal
"We come to Silverstone off the back of two strong results in Canada and Austria, two races that have been a big boost for everyone in the team. As we approach the mid-season point, being fifth in the championship is an tremendous achievement, especially when you take into consideration our start to the season. It's a reward for the hard work by everyone in the team, both at the factory and trackside.
"Our recent results are an excellent platform to build on for the second part of the season, with our eagerly-awaited upgrade package making its debut in Silverstone. Everyone is full of anticipation, but we know it will be a very steep learning curve to fully understand and get on top of the changes in just a few free practice sessions. However, I remain optimistic we will see progress sooner rather than later.
"Both Nico and Checo have been performing admirably so far this year and they have seized every opportunity to score points. I have always had the utmost confidence in our driver pairing and I think this season has shown, once again, that we have one of the most competitive line-ups in Formula One.
"Silverstone is a special place for us. It's our local race, with our headquarters just across the road giving a chance for all our factory staff to be close to the action. It is also a great race thanks to the atmosphere in the grandstands: the fans in Britain have an incredible passion for motorsport and they always turn up to create an amazing event."

Formula1.com 
 

Austria GP - Race - Force India Quotes

Nico Hulkenberg, 6th
“I’m very satisfied with sixth place today. Going into the race we always knew it would be difficult to keep the Williams of Bottas behind me, so bringing the car home in sixth was probably the maximum we could achieve. I had some good wheel-to-wheel battles with him and we swapped places a few times, but it was hard to match their absolute pace. Overall it’s been a great weekend: I found a nice rhythm and I have been very happy with the performance of the car. With Checo in the points as well, it’s been an excellent weekend for us and we can be proud of what we’ve achieved. It’s an important boost ahead of Silverstone where we hope to make another step forward.”

Sergio Perez, 9th
“It is a great result for the team to come away with so many points. We’ve moved up to fifth in the championship and that's an incredible effort by everyone in the team. I had a great start and first lap: the target was to get ahead of Maldonado as he was the first driver on the prime tyre and we managed to do that. In the first stint I had a lot of pressure from both the Lotus drivers, but we held strong and the race was looking really good. Unfortunately, we lost some time in a slow pit stop and it was a bit difficult to recover after that, especially as that placed us behind Ericsson and Nasr. The second stint was not very easy because I had some very strong vibrations on the front tyres and that cost me some pace. All in all, considering our position on the grid, it was a good race. I think we could have been a couple of places ahead if everything had gone to plan, but it's still a good result.”

Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal
“To come away from Austria with ten more points and fifth place in the championship is a tremendous result. We’ve shown good pace all weekend and it’s very satisfying to convert that speed into valuable points. Nico drove a very clean and tidy race, and realistically it would have been difficult to have finished higher up the order. The same is true for Sergio who was on the opposite strategy to Nico, but made the progress he needed in the early laps on the soft tyres. Despite a slightly lengthy pit stop he was able to recover to ninth place and pick up a couple of points. It means that we remain very well placed ahead of our local race at Silverstone where we plan to introduce the next step for the VJM08.”

Formula1.com