2017 Force India F1 Team - Mercedes

[NAPI10]

It seems this partnership is working for BWT and they are pouring more money

[turbof1]

It seems this partnership is working for BWT and they are pouring more money

It does make sense. Although BWT is keeping a low profile on the Indian market, it is a huge growth market concerning water purifying installation and supply, along with a booming population ever demanding more water per person. Given Force India is very popular in India, this is a huge lot of exposure for BWT and there might even be marketing synergy with Mexico, where BWT has not yet tapped into that market.

Let's also be clear on the fact BWT is simply a huuuugeee entreprise. They can easily afford pumping that money into the team.

[IamLegend]

It seems this partnership is working for BWT and they are pouring more money

It does make sense. Although BWT is keeping a low profile on the Indian market, it is a huge growth market concerning water purifying installation and supply, along with a booming population ever demanding more water per person. Given Force India is very popular in India, this is a huge lot of exposure for BWT and there might even be marketing synergy with Mexico, where BWT has not yet tapped into that market.

Let's also be clear on the fact BWT is simply a huuuugeee entreprise. They can easily afford pumping that money into the team.

I could be wrong, but this is Mallya's way of weighing in on his ownership over Diageo to outshine the Johnnie Walker label on the back-wing of the car. Ofcourse BTW could have their own reasons to put their brand out there, either to tap potential markets or just to have presence in a sport where they get good exposure.

Ultimately, I think if Kingfisher's font on the car is reduced, Mallya is making sure, Johnnie Walker doesn't get the spotlight either.

[IamLegend]

Right, I understand Checo is bringing money + is delivering results. But if I recollect from what you were saying earlier, the discussion was about what will happen once/if Checo leaves, your opinion was they'll opt for a rookie pay driver like Williams did. I don't agree, if they wanted a pay driver, they'll get one from the Indian market who can also bring in the money if that was the team's only motive.

Infact, they are actually doing things right by nurturing talent from the early stages, Force India also has been sponsoring a young driver's program to develop talent from that pool. So I still am of the opinion, even if Checo leaves, they'll opt for talent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehan_Daruvala

As far as my comment for this -> " I can't see Force India turning into race winners.", if one day we have an F1 management where they bring a budget cap on teams, I don't see this as a distant dream. Until that day, we can hope for the rain gods to play havoc or issues in the front to see the Force India team on the top step of the podium in this format. Remember, this sport is still favorable to the big players, so for the Sunday fans following the big teams will bring them a lot of joy.

For the rest of us, looking at amazing teams like Force India achieving what they can pound for pound will give us immense pleasure like in 2015 Baku when the Force India was overtaking a Ferrari to take third, I was chuckling like a 10 year old.

There are only two big names from India which SFI can consider and both are product of "One in Billion" initiative of SFI. 1. Arjun Maini & 2. Jehan Daruvala.

But both this driver has no big backers at the moment, Jehan has some support from Dekra and SFI funding his F3 seat, otherwise I don't see him getting much financial support from within India.

I heard that Arjun is getting some backing from JK Tyres, but thats not enough to land a seat in F1. SFI will only consider him if Arjun does some great drive in GP3 and proves himself as undefeated driver, last he scored only podium of his team and created some news, so he looks a good prospect for future SFI driver.

There are two big conglomerate in India which can back this drivers, and they are TATA & Mahindra, they both are big names in the world of racing and will have a good chance in projecting their brand.

You called it, didn't know he's the son of Gautham Maini and he's from my hometown of Bangalore!

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/head ... maini.html

[Manjhi]

You called it, didn't know he's the son of Gautham Maini and he's from my hometown of Bangalore!

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/head ... maini.html

And guess what!!! Today he just got "development driver" role for Haas F1 team. =D> =D> =D>

[Manjhi]

You called it, didn't know he's the son of Gautham Maini and he's from my hometown of Bangalore!

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/head ... maini.html

And the Sunday just got even better, Arjun Maini wins the Round 2 of the first GP3 race of the season.
First Indian to do so. =D>

Back to F1 :
P4 & P5 looks incredible!!!

The team knows how to grab the pieces left by some top team.

[Samraj_official]

a big €25,000 fine for the team for failing to correctly display driver numbers during the Spanish Grand Prix

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/3531 ... -000-fine/

[vas_04614]

a big €25,000 fine for the team for failing to correctly display driver numbers during the Spanish Grand Prix

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/3531 ... -000-fine/

Only if it's repeated again in next 12 months

[ME4ME]

Great job by the team and drivers. This was a great opportunity to score a lot of points and they took it with both hands. Seeing how their rivals are struggeling with at least one underperforming driver, it will be hard for the likes of Williams and Renault to catch up.

[Manjhi]

Great job by the team and drivers. This was a great opportunity to score a lot of points and they took it with both hands. Seeing how their rivals are struggeling with at least one underperforming driver, it will be hard for the likes of Williams and Renault to catch up.

I think Renault might comeback in the later part of the season, but there is no scope for Williams with $troll in another car. $troll is always 0.5-.7 sec behind Massa's pace during race and that is just ridiculous, but Palmer looked quite good on Sunday only let down by his team due to bad strategy.

Hulk looks in his best form, as always, but it will be tough for him to escort his team ahead of Williams & Force India with next few tracks favouring Mercedes engine. Personally I thought Renault to be miles ahead of Force India on Sunday but they surprised everyone, but we already knew that the current package is designed keeping in mind some downforce unlike Williams which mostly develops low downforce package.

Force India will be strong at Monaco and I can bet even today that Mr. $troll is crashing on Sunday before 10th lap in the race.

[ME4ME]

Force India is a pretty solid team even regarding in-season development. Renault has a deficit to bridge, before they can surpass Force India performance wise. I'm not sure that will happen this season, given Force India's healthy budget thanks to increased FOM income and BTW sponsorship.

Also Renault stands no chance even in a superior car using Hulkenberg alone. They desperately need Palmer to improve(I mean replaced ).

[Manjhi]

Force India is a pretty solid team even regarding in-season development. Renault has a deficit to bridge, before they can surpass Force India performance wise. I'm not sure that will happen this season, given Force India's healthy budget thanks to increased FOM income and BTW sponsorship.

Also Renault stands no chance even in a superior car using Hulkenberg alone. They desperately need Palmer to improve(I mean replaced ).

I think Palmer still needs some time to settle in, but the new drivers like Pascal and Esteban Ocon performing well has definitely put some pressure on him. And I'll not be surprised if Renault replaces him with somebody experienced e.g. Romain.

As far as SFI's development is concerned, until Russia, I thought the team is very much dependent on engine but after Barcelona I am quite sure that in terms of aero SFI is there with Renault and Torro Rosso after upgrade. The team will again perform well in Monaco and Baku.

As far as budget is concerned a difference of $ 10-15 million won't make difference in the midfield,remember William's budget is already more than $ 20 million. So if Renault wants to be up there with the big teams then they'll have to pour in some $ 150+ million and will have to hire some big names in their technical team.

[IamLegend]

Great job by the team and drivers. This was a great opportunity to score a lot of points and they took it with both hands. Seeing how their rivals are struggeling with at least one underperforming driver, it will be hard for the likes of Williams and Renault to catch up.

I think Renault might comeback in the later part of the season, but there is no scope for Williams with $troll in another car. $troll is always 0.5-.7 sec behind Massa's pace during race and that is just ridiculous, but Palmer looked quite good on Sunday only let down by his team due to bad strategy.

Hulk looks in his best form, as always, but it will be tough for him to escort his team ahead of Williams & Force India with next few tracks favouring Mercedes engine. Personally I thought Renault to be miles ahead of Force India on Sunday but they surprised everyone, but we already knew that the current package is designed keeping in mind some downforce unlike Williams which mostly develops low downforce package.

Force India will be strong at Monaco and I can bet even today that Mr. $troll is crashing on Sunday before 10th lap in the race.

A chap commented on here a few days back why SFi would go for a pay driver and I defended that they won't because we're not like another midfield team that answers to shareholders. The need to show progress from the balance sheet perspective and not from the p.o.v of racing as the company's passion. Hence we've seen them make mistakes over the years with characters like 1. Maldonado and now 2.$troll.

Now coming to the fun part, did anyone notice how Martin Brundle was joking with Bernie and Bob Fernley about how Force India was going to be "bought" over by Brabham and that Bernie was going to hire Martin as one of the team's driver before the start of the race? I'll try finding the link on youtube and update it here.

So that rumor was rubbished and another interesting titbit got out of the bag, if Kimi doesn't sign with Ferrari, Perez is the first choice for Ferrari next season, so we'll miss him but we can manage pretty well I think.

Also how was the race weekend, fast during the qualis, fast in race pace. Clearly ahead of the midfield teams and 22 points to add to the tally plus a former Force India young driver program kid winning his first F3 race, beating the Mercedes junior driver who ended up 5th. Good for Haas, but I hope he's talented and Force India can make him a driver after the next 2 seasons.

Speaking of problems to have, these are kind a team should have

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 33461.html

"Stevenson asked the sports commissioners three questions that Force India ultimately got away with a fine on probation: Why did not anyone point us at the technical inspection? Why was the car declared legal on Thursday? Then it must also have been legal on Sunday, because we have in the meantime changed nothing to the starting number. What is visible from the front?

Stevenson points out: "When I stand in front of the car, I can read the number flawlessly. From the grandstand too. It is even greater than required by the rules. From a deep perspective, the number is not visible. But there is no point in the rules. There is a perspective for every car from which you can not see the numbers or the names. "
Why did Red Bull get away with it?

To the question why Red BullFormula Schmidt GP Russia: Langweiler race or F1-Crime? escaped unscathed, the commissioners did not know a satisfactory answer. Nobody would have asked for an investigation at Red Bull, they said. This is no excuse, Force India countered . The sports commissioners may also initiate an investigation without a direct request. And with Red Bull, the same problem was encountered with placing the start numbers on the nose.
It was only when Force India promised to solve the ranking of the FIA, the ice broke. If the team can not be held responsible for the next 12 months, the 25,000 euro penalty will be forfeited."

Hence the 25,000 Euro penalty on probation, because poor Jean Todt wanted to look tough in front of Michelle, the blue pill might not be working effectively as expected.


Also they just strong armed Mercedes into not helping McLaren Honda with their engine woes because it'll be giving rival team an advantage. How about that!? Loving this F1 season to bits! Go SFi!!!

[NAPI10]

Nice article on battle for fourth place -
https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2017/05/ ... nish-woes/

Beating Redbull for 3rd place might be a far fetched dream but do u remember story of 'Turtle & Hare' ....just saying.

[Facts Only]

Turtle and Hare? Was that the swimming race after the running section? (Joke)