Information about Force India

History of Force India in F1

Force India only began their Formula One Career last year after Indian Billionaire Dr Vijay Mallya lead a consortium that bought the Spyker team and renamed the team Force India. Their first season was up and down and although they finished pointless, the team made significant improvements with their pace towards the end of the season. Force India has also secured a deal with F1 top guns, McLaren, which gained them an all important Mercedes engine for 2009. Owner Vijay Mallya has also been named as team principal and 2009 will prove to be an interesting season for the team.

Force India information

Force India is the newest team to Formula One and they took over the Spyker team in 2008. Dr Vijay Mallya is the Indian billionaire who along with Michiel Mol a Dutch businessman led a consortium that bought the team that is based in Silverstone, England. They race with the Bridgestone Potenza tyres and a Mercedes engine. The new team is yet to score any points but they will be hoping veteran driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Suttil will score them some vital points in the 2009 campaign.

Technical details and statistics

Force India has recently developed their sidepod winglets to minimise unwanted drag and enhance the stability of the winglets. The shark fin engine cover improves the air flow quality towards the rear wing, which will lead to less drag.

Base: Silverstone, England
Team principal: Vijay Mallya
Main drivers: Adrian Suttil and Giancarlo Fisichella
Engine: Mercedes
Chassis: VJM02
Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza
Debut F1 season: 2008
World Championship titles: 0
Highest race finish: 10th (x1)
Pole positions: 0
Fastest lap times: 0

Driver no.1: Giancarlo Fisichella

Kimi Raikkonen was born in Espoo and became the Finnish karting champion in his debut season in 1998. He went on to compete in numerous racGiancarlo Fisichella was born in Rome and is an old hand on the Formula One circuit. He began his racing career in 1994 when he became champion of the Formula Three Series. The following year saw him competing in the International Touring Car Championship and the German DTM, as well as becoming an F1 test driver for Minardi. In 1996 he tested for Ferrari and went on to make his introduction to Grand Prix racing with Minardi and gained a contract with Jordan for the 1997 campaign. The Italian moved to Benetton in 1998 and got his first pole position on the starting grid. After a run of mediocre performances and mid table finishes, Fisichella switched back to Jordan in 2002 and he won his first race the following year in Brazil. 2004 saw him move to Sauber to finish the season in 11th and in 2005, he switched to Renault and boasted pole position and victory in the opening race of the season. The Italian finished fifth in 2005 and fourth in 2006 but his performance in 2007 was substandard and he was dropped by Renault. The Force India team picked him up for last year’s campaign and he will be hoping for a more competitive drive in 2009.

Statistics
Nationality: Italian
Date of birth: 14/01/1973
World Championship titles: 0
Number of Grands Prix won: 3
Pole positions: 3
Career points: 267
Podiums: 18

Driver no.2: Adrian Suttil

Adrian Suttil was born in Starnberg and in 2002 he claimed the title of Swiss Formula Ford Champion after winning all 12 races. The following year he competed in the German Formula ADAC BMW Championship and finished in sixth place before moving up to the F3 Euroseries in 2004 with team Kolles. The German had an outstanding season in 2005, when he won twice, took two pole positions and finished on the podium 11 times. He finished as a runner-up behind current F1 champion Lewis Hamilton before taking the Japanese Formula Three crown in 2006 and earning himself a test drive spot for Spyker. Suttil was awarded a drivers place in the Spyker team in 2007 and on his debut year scored the team’s first point. Last season, Spyker turned into Force India but the car was inconsistent and he finished with no points.

Statistics
Nationality: German
Date of birth: 11/01/1983
World Championship titles: 0
Number of Grands Prix won: 0
Pole positions: 0
Career points: 1
Podiums: 0