As part of the presentation of his car for 2017, the Indian team Force India has developed its target for the coming season. The Indian businessman Vijay Mallya aims at nothing less than the top 3 teams. The Mexican Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon young French will be the Force India drivers in 2017.
Force India unveiled Wednesday at Silverstone his new car VJM10, which should enable it to achieve the target set by its owner Vijay Mallya for the 2017 season: “be in the top 3” in the constructors championship. “If we do not dream big, we never would have finished fourth last season. Our goal now is to be in the top 3”, assured the Indian businessman at the launch of the VJM10, which will again this season powered by Mercedes.
“Our plan is to continue developing the car throughout the season. From what I’ve seen our trials, I am confident it will be a competitive car”, continued Mallya. “We have improved year after year, is better than what was expected of us fought in the category above. […] As high as are the barriers to be in the top 3, I do not see why we could not do it. “
A 95% new car
Last season, Force India was fourth in the constructors’ championship, behind the giants Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. The team achieved two podiums last season with the 3rd place of Perez the European Grand Prix and Monaco. The VJM10 car is a “95% new” according to the technical director Andrew Green.
“We put a lot more development time for this car. And a team of our size, it is at the expense of the car from last season “ , assured Otmar Szafnauer, director of Force India operations, adding that the work on the VJM10 has ” begun in May “ in 2016. 2017 drivers will be Mexico’s Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, the young, 20 year old Frenchman who has replaced Nico Hulkenberg.
Esteban Ocon wants to learn
“I want to learn from this team” , commented Ocon, whose career is managed by the Mercedes engine. “I have much to learn from Sergio. He is a great driver. My goal is to be at the forefront from the beginning of the season “, he said, providing “ do not ” feel pressure “ at the approach of his first season as a starter. Ocon was champion of Formula 3 in Europe in 2014 and champion of the GP3 in 2015. He became the 70th french rider to take a start in Formula 1 GP Belgium, 2016.
