Force India unveils its VJM03

Her name is VJM03. Same sponsor, same drivers and same engine Mercedes, the Indian team has chosen stability in order to approach its third season as calmly as possible in Formula 1, the car itself not being able to deny its family ties with the VJM02.

“Our goal is to continue our good momentum from last year which was exceptional. A podium, a pole position and a best lap in the race, the numbers speak for us. I am confident in our ability to pick up even more points and podiums this season.” With his few words, boss Vijay Mallya confirms the rise in power of his team.

Unsurprisingly it will therefore be Adrian Sutil, 27 years old, and Vitantonio Liuzzi, 28 years old who will be the two starters within the Indian team. The German, who started in F1 in 2007 with Spyker (team bought by Vijay Mallya in 2008) hopes to qualify in the middle of the grid from Bahrain and be efficient and above all consistent throughout the season, with a car which should perform well on all types of track unlike its predecessor, mainly designed for circuits requiring little downforce such as Monza or Spa. The Italian, whose first GP dates back to 2005 at Red Bull Racing, is being offered a new chance to shine in the premier discipline, not without having been chomping at the bit for a good part of last season as a third driver.

As announced recently, the reserve is called Paul di Resta, very convincing during the “young driver tests” at the beginning of December in Jerez where he set the third time. In the meantime, the 23-year-old Scot is making his mark in the very tough championship DTM at the wheel of an official Mercedes, after winning the 2006 F3 Euro Series ahead of a certain? Sebastian Vettel.

The car will make its first laps in the hands of Vitantonio Liuzzi tomorrow on the Spanish circuit of Jerez, before Adrian Sutil takes over on Thursday. As for Paul di Resta, he will have to wait until February 17.

Find the AUTOhebdo F1 2010 Guide on newsstands next Wednesday.