Force India is in the wind

The last good result for Vijay Mallya?s team dates back to the British Grand Prix with Adrian Sutil?s eighth place. The Indian single-seaters subsequently experienced two difficult races. They finished at the back of the grid at Hockenheim (16th and 17th) after qualifying unworthy of the pace displayed so far by the VJM03s, and they did not shine more last weekend at the Hungaroring, with a mediocre thirteenth. place of Vitantonio Liuzzi, and a retirement of Adrian Sutil, after contact with the R30 of Robert Kubica in the pits.

If the return of Sauber and Williams can partly explain the decline in Force India's performance, it is clear that the pace displayed is no longer the same as at the start of the season. “ The pace of racing is very fast this season, as well as that of development », Explains Andy Stevenson, the director of the Indian team. “ We were fast at the start of the season with our development but I think the others have gradually caught up. »

Force India wants to get back into the race, in particular by developing the famous blown diffuser used by most competitors. “ We have already found some new features that we need to improve on and we are already ready to have them installed when we return to Spa. We hope that these improvements will allow us to get back into the race »

The Indian team tested its new blown diffuser for the first time last weekend at the Hungaroring during free practice on Friday, but some technical problems occurred. However, the broadcaster should be ready for the return from vacation at the end of the month. “ Williams and Renault are very strong at the moment but I think that with the blown diffuser and other small developments that we have planned to add, we will be able to fight between fifth and seventh place " added Stevenson.

With seven races remaining in the season, Force India can no longer return to Renault F1 and will have to fight to maintain its sixth position in the Championship and its lead of seven points over the Williams team. If Vitantonio Liuzzi can improve on his 14th place in the Championship, Adrian Sutil could well afford the luxury of finishing ahead Michael Schumacher in ninth position, which is only three points ahead of him.