Force India Enter F1 Partnership with McLaren-Mercedes
Vijay Mallya has agreed to terms with McLaren Mercedes, which will see his ambitious Force India Formula 1 team receive considerable technical support. The announcement comes just days after Force India split from their 2008 partners Ferrari. There was still one year to run on the Ferrari contract but Mallya has insisted that the two organisations parted on good terms and that he is prepared to compensate the Italian team.
The new deal means that next year’s Force India car will be powered by a Mercedes engine. McLaren will provide Mallya’s team with their gearbox, hydraulics and new KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). Mallya is hopeful that the new relationship will see Force India become front-runners by the time of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, which is planned for 2011. Mallya was quoted on the ITV F1 website talking about the new deal;
“These new resources and developments will provide a huge boost to our technical armoury… We said at the outset that we meant business and were not interested in merely making up the numbers.”
2008 was Force India’s first season in Formula 1, and it brought no points. Adrian Sutil came agonisingly close at Monaco only to be taken off near the end by an out of control Kimi Raikkonen. Sutil is being retained for 2009 along with the experienced Giancarlo Fisichella.
There have also been other major changes at Force India recently. Team principal Colin Kolles parted company with the team, along with chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne. Mallya will take a much bigger role in the running of his team from now on, assisted by Robert Fernley.
History and Future of India in F1
These latest developments illustrate Mallya’s determination to succeed in Formula 1. Force India is the first ever Indian Formula 1 team, Bernie Ecclestone will be keen to see them succeed. India is a largely untapped Formula 1 market. The country has only produced one Grand Prix driver. Narain Karthikeyan drove in the 2005 Formula 1 season for Jordan, the team which eventually became Force India.
The Indian Grand Prix will be a new addition to the Formula 1 calendar in 2011. The race will be held on a circuit in New Delhi. Indian racing fans were recently treated to a demonstration by the Renault Formula 1 team. Mallya will be hoping to challenge the big guns by the time his home race comes around.
Biography of Force India F1 driver Adrian Sutil.
Kevin Guthrie - Kevin is based in Fife, Scotland, where he works as a music teacher, professional drummer and freelance writer. At an early age he ...
