Red marquis at 18:07, 10 February 2010

2010-02-10T18:07:38Z

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			[[Image:Force India logo.jpg\|right]]
	'''Force India Formula One Team Limited''', trading as '''Force India F1''', is a [[Formula One]] [[motor racing]] team. The team was formed in October 2007, when a consortium led by Indian businessman [[Vijay Mallya]] and [[Michiel Mol]] bought the [[Spyker F1]] team for € 88 million.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/05/spyker-f1-team-officially-sold/\| title=Spyker F1 team officially sold \| publisher=GPUpdate.net\| date =2007-10-05}}</ref>		'''Force India Formula One Team Limited''', trading as '''Force India F1''', is a [[Formula One]] [[motor racing]] team. The team was formed in October 2007, when a consortium led by Indian businessman [[Vijay Mallya]] and [[Michiel Mol]] bought the [[Spyker F1]] team for € 88 million.<ref>{{cite news \| url=http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/05/spyker-f1-team-officially-sold/\| title=Spyker F1 team officially sold \| publisher=GPUpdate.net\| date =2007-10-05}}</ref>

Red marquis at 18:05, 10 February 2010

2010-02-10T18:05:37Z

New page

'''Force India Formula One Team Limited''', trading as '''Force India F1''', is a [[Formula One]] [[motor racing]] team. The team was formed in October 2007, when a consortium led by Indian businessman [[Vijay Mallya]] and [[Michiel Mol]] bought the [[Spyker F1]] team for € 88 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/10/05/spyker-f1-team-officially-sold/| title=Spyker F1 team officially sold | publisher=GPUpdate.net| date =2007-10-05}}</ref>

Force India F1 represents increased Indian participation within Formula One, with Delhi set to host the first ever [[Indian Grand Prix]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web | date=2008-09-30 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/3108572/Indian-Grand-Prix-debut-pushed-back-to-2011-Formula-One.html | title=Indian Grand Prix debut pushed back to 2011 | publisher = telegraph | accessdate = 2008-10-08}}</ref> The [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] confirmed the change in name from ''Spyker'' to ''Force India'' on 24 October 2007.<ref name="FIA Approves name change to Force India">{{cite news| title = FIA approve Spyker's Force India name change | Formula 1 Website | Formula 1 Website | publisher = Formula One Administration Ltd | url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/10/7036.html| date =2007-10-24| accessdate =2007-10-24}}</ref>

After going through 29 races without a point, Force India won their first Formula One world championship points and podium place when [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] finished second in the [[2009 Belgian Grand Prix]].<ref name="Belgian Grand Prix results">{{cite news| title= Spa-Francorchamps results | publisher = BBC Sport | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/results/7921166.stm| date =2009-08-30| accessdate = 2009-08-30}}</ref> Force India scored points again in the following race when [[Adrian Sutil]] finished fourth after starting the race from second at the [[2009 Italian Grand Prix|Italian GP]].

==Background==
Although created in 2007, the team's roots can be traced back to 1991, when it was founded as [[Jordan Grand Prix]]. Jordan enjoyed many years in Formula One even running the title close in 1999, but financial problems crept in and the team's performance dried up. [[Eddie Jordan]], the then owner, realised the writing was on the wall and the best way to save the team was to opt for a sale.

The [[Silverstone]]-based squad and facilities were bought by the Midland group in 2005 and re-named [[Midland F1 Racing]] in 2006, before being sold to [[Spyker Cars]] towards the end of the 2006 season. However, the running costs of a small Formula One team once again caused the sale of the team this time to the Orange India Holdings group, with [[Vijay Mallya]] and [[Michiel Mol]] taking over the ownership of the team.

===Buyout of Spyker F1===
Rumours about the possible sale of the team had been abundant in the paddock throughout the last few months of the 2007 season, after Spyker announced their intention to sell 50% of the team,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/teams/6946811.stm| title=Spyker considers sale of team| publisher=BBC Sport| date=| accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref> less than a year after Spyker bought it from Midland. The cost of the team was € 88 million, several million more than Spyker paid for the team initially.<ref name=BBCchangesname >{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7060350.stm| title=Spyker changes name | publisher=BBC Sport| date=| accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>

== Formula 1 (2008 - present)==

[[Colin Kolles]] remained as team principal in 2008, with [[Michiel Mol]] as director of F1 racing, and [[Mike Gascoyne]] as the Chief Technology Officer.

=== 2008: Beginnings and Ferrari Engines ===
Force India used the [[Spyker F8-VII|VJM01]] chassis, an updated version of the previous year's Spyker car, for the first part of the {{F1|2008}} season.<ref>{{cite news| title =Force India sticking with the F8-VII| publisher =uk.eurosport.yahoo.com| url =http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13112007/13/force-india-sticking-f8-vii.html| date =2007-11-13| accessdate =2007-11-16}}</ref> The team used customer [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] engines in 2008, with the team's existing deal with Ferrari originally running to 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2007/10/6964.html| title=Spyker's Dr Vijay Mallya| publisher=Formula One| date=| accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref> The team also used the Indian flag in its team logo from 2008.<ref name="FIA Approves name change to Force India" /> Former Spyker sponsor Etihad Airways have a contract with the team until 2009, and have yet to announce any changes to this arrangement. Force India will construct their own cars as Spyker did, rather than using customer chassis.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/9/6753.html| title=Mallya: Spyker to remain a constructor| publisher=Formula One| date=2007-09-11| accessdate=2007-10-30}}</ref>
Force India has a contract with [[Adrian Sutil]] for 2008.<ref name=BBCchangesname /> In November 2007 the team invited [[Vitantonio Liuzzi]], [[Christian Klien]], [[Giancarlo Fisichella]], [[Ralf Schumacher]], [[Franck Montagny]] and former Spyker test drivers [[Giedo van der Garde]] and [[Roldan Rodriguez]] to take part in winter tests along with Sutil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spykerf1.nl/?pag=89&newsid=521 |title=Force India Begins Winter Testing|publisher= Spyker F1|accessdate=2007-11-10 }}</ref> Giancarlo Fisichella took the second seat at Force India after being replaced at [[Renault F1|Renault]] by [[Fernando Alonso]].<ref>{{cite news| title =Force India sign Sutil’s new teammate!| publisher =Automoto365.com | url =http://f1.automoto365.com/news/controller.php?lang=en&theme=default&month=12&year=2007&nextMode=GpNewsForm&news_id=29131| date =2007-12-17| accessdate =2007-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title =Another Fisichella to Force India Report| publisher =F1-Live.com | url =http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/071221095657.shtml| date =2007-12-21| accessdate =2007-12-21}}</ref> On January 10, 2008, Force India confirmed Fisichella as first driver and Vitantonio Liuzzi as a test driver. Adrian Sutil had already been confirmed and took the second driver Role. Former Spyker test drivers [[Roldan Rodriguez]] and [[Giedo van der Garde]] were confirmed as test drivers for Force India F1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/teams_and_drivers/teams/188/ |title=Force India Profile on Formula1.com |publisher= Formula1.com|accessdate=2007-11-10 }}
</ref>

At [[2008 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco 2008]] it looked like Force India was near to scoring their first point as [[Adrian Sutil]] had moved up to fourth place until Kimi Räikkönen collided with him 10 minutes before the end of the race. However, it was judged that Sutil was in wrong position because he had overtaken under yellow flags.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67745 |title=F1 News: Sutil reprimanded for passing under yellow |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-05-25 |accessdate=2009-08-30}}</ref> More points were lost in Singapore because the safety car period that ensued after Sutil's accident ruined Fisichella's strategy. He had run as high as third earlier in the race.

====VJM01====

{{Main|Force India VJM01}}
The VJM01 was launched with a white, gold and tungsten colored livery at the Gateway of India, in Mumbai, India, on February 7, 2008. The car was named after Force India F1's owners Dr. '''V'''ijay Mallya, '''J'''an Mol and '''M'''ichel Mol. The car was fitted with new aerodynamic updates after almost every race.

=== Mercedes' engines and 2009 Success (2009 Season) ===
Force India retained the same drivers for the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7676066.stm| title=Force India keep drivers for 2009| publisher=BBC Sport| date=2008-10-17| accessdate=2008-10-20}}</ref> At the wet [[2009 Chinese Grand Prix]], Sutil almost secured Force India's first points, holding sixth place in front of [[Lewis Hamilton]] and [[Timo Glock]] with six laps remaining when aquaplaning led to the Force India car skidding off the road and crashing out of the race. At the [[2009 German Grand Prix|German GP]], Sutil qualified in seventh place and battled for the points, reaching second at one point, before crashing with Kimi Räikkönen after leaving the pitlane and being forced to pit again to change a broken front wing. He finished 15th.

Force India gained their first pole position in Formula One when Fisichella qualified fastest at the [[2009 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian GP]] in [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps|Spa]].<ref name="Belgian Grand Prix qualifying">{{cite news| title = Spa-Francorchamps results: qualifying | publisher = BBC Sport | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/results/8225297.stm| date =2009-08-29| accessdate = 2009-08-29}}</ref> He finished the race in second position, less than a second behind Kimi Räikkönen earning Force India's first ever points and podium position.

On 3 September 2009, Force India announced that they were releasing Fisichella to allow him to race for [[Scuderia Ferrari]] for the remainder of the season. It was announced four days later that test driver [[Vitantonio Liuzzi]] would replace Fisichella for the remaining races.<ref name="Liuzzi replaces Fisichella">{{cite news| title = Liuzzi replaces Fisichella at Force India | publisher = Reuters India| url=http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-42274320090907| date =2009-09-07| accessdate = 2009-09-07}}</ref>

In the qualifying session of the [[2009 Italian Grand Prix]] in Monza, Sutil qualified second and Liuzzi, on his debut for the team, qualified seventh. On race day, Sutil finished fourth and clocked the fastest lap of the race. While running fourth in the race, Liuzzi had to retire due to a gear box failure. Force India finished the season 9th in front of Scuderia Toro Rosso with 13 points, however, this didn't reflect the vast improvement Force India made from the start of the season.

====VJM02====
{{Main|Force India VJM02}}

The VJM02 is powered by [[Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines|Mercedes-Benz]] engines from the 2009 season after signing a five year deal on 10 November 2008. The deal also includes supply of McLaren-Mercedes gearboxes, hydraulic systems and [[Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems]] (KERS). The car was revealed on March 1, 2009.<ref>[http://indiangrandprix.net/main/2009/02/24/new-force-india-formula-one-car-vjm-02-to-be-revealed-on-sunday/ New Force India Formula One Car: VJM 02 to be revealed on Sunday]</ref> The VJM02 was the first Force India car to pick up points, pole and fastest lap at the [[2009 Belgian Grand Prix]] but the race was won by Ferrari's [[Kimi Räikkönen]].

====2010 and the Future====
The team announced on 27 November 2009, that it is to keep Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi for the 2010 season.<ref name="en.f1-live.com">http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091127131551.shtml</ref> The team tested [[Paul di Resta]] and [[J. R. Hildebrand]] at Jerez, with di Resta setting a much faster time.<ref name="en.f1-live.com"/> The VJM03 will be the team's 2010 Formula One season chassis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Perfect Partners - Exclusive Q&A with Force India's Simon Roberts |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/9/10009.html |work=formula1.com |publisher=[[Formula One Group|Formula One Administration]] |date=2009-09-29 |accessdate=2010-02-06}}</ref> Di Resta was confirmed as the team's test driver on February 2, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Elizalde|first=Pablo|title=Force India signs di Resta as reserve|publisher=[[Haymarket Group|Haymarket Publications]]|work=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/81209|date=2010-02-02|accessdate=2010-02-02}}</ref>

===Sponsorship===
Kingfisher, a brand owned by Vijay Mallya, is the primary sponsor. Other sponsors for 2008 included ICICI Bank, Medion, Kanyan Capital and Reliance Industries Limited.<ref>[http://forceindiaf1.com/forcesponsors.aspx Force India F1 Sponsors]</ref> Kingfisher also sponsored [[FMS International]], a [[GP2 Series|GP2]] team partly-owned by Fisichella. The above sponsors, except ICICI Bank and Kanyan Capital, continue to sponsor the team in 2009. New sponsors include AVG, Airbus and Whyte & Mackay.

===Partners===
In December,Computational Research Laboratories (CRL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, and Force India Formula One Team announced an exclusive three-year multi-million dollar partnership deal to offer a fully automated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution to aid the design of the team’s next generation race cars as well improve aerodynamic efficiency in the current racing models.<ref>{{cite news| title =CRL partners with Force India to help design the next generation of Formula 1 cars| publisher =forceindiaf1.com| url =http://www.forceindiaf1.com/index/page_id/356/news_id/289| date =2009-12-16| accessdate =2010-02-01}}</ref>
Force India F1 has tied up with Airbus and[ EADS for technological support, and has a technical partnership with [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]].<ref>{{cite news| title =Force India's first target will be to beat Aguri| publisher =racing.indiatimes.com| url =http://racing.indiatimes.com/Force_Indias_first_target_will_be_to_beat_Aguri/articleshow/2768252.cms| date =2008-02-08| accessdate =2007-02-09}}</ref>

==Complete Formula One results==
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) (results in '''bold''' indicate pole position)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
! Year
! Chassis
! Engine
! Tyres
! Drivers
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! 17
! 18
! Points
! WCC
|-
!rowspan="3"| [[2008 Formula One season|2008]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Spyker F8-VII|Force India VJM01]]
|rowspan="3"| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] 056 [[V8 engine|V8]]
|rowspan="3"| {{Bridgestone}}
|
| [[2008 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]
| [[2008 Malaysian Grand Prix|MAL]]
| [[2008 Bahrain Grand Prix|BHR]]
| [[2008 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[2008 Turkish Grand Prix|TUR]]
| [[2008 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[2008 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]
| [[2008 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[2008 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[2008 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[2008 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]
| [[2008 European Grand Prix|EUR]]
| [[2008 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[2008 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[2008 Singapore Grand Prix|SIN]]
| [[2008 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| [[2008 Chinese Grand Prix|CHN]]
| [[2008 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
!rowspan="3"| '''0'''
!rowspan="3"| '''10th'''
|-
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 19
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 19
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 19
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16
|-
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 18
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 18
|-
!rowspan="4"| [[2009 Formula One season|2009]]
|rowspan="4"| [[Force India VJM02]]
|rowspan="4"| [[Mercedes-Benz in motorsport|Mercedes]] FO 108W [[V8 engine|V8]]
|rowspan="4"| {{Bridgestone}}
|
| [[2009 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]
| [[2009 Malaysian Grand Prix|MAL]]
| [[2009 Chinese Grand Prix|CHN]]
| [[2009 Bahrain Grand Prix|BHR]]
| [[2009 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]
| [[2009 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[2009 Turkish Grand Prix|TUR]]
| [[2009 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[2009 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[2009 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]
| [[2009 European Grand Prix|EUR]]
| [[2009 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[2009 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
| [[2009 Singapore Grand Prix|SIN]]
| [[2009 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| [[2009 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]
| [[2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix|ABU]]
|
!rowspan="4"| 13
!rowspan="4"| 9th
|-
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 16
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11
| style="background:#dfffdf;"| ''4''
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 13
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 17
|
|-
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 18
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 12
| style="background:#DFDFDF; font-weight:boldest;"| '''2'''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Vitantonio Liuzzi]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 14
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 11
| style="background:#cfcfff;"| 15
|
|} 

==See Also==
{{Formula One teams}}
{{Force India F1}}
{{Formula One constructors}}

==External links==
{{commons|Force India}}
{{portalpar|Formula One}}
* [http://www.forceindiaf1.com Force India Formula One Team Official Website]
* [http://f1chronicles.com/2008/03/26/f1-india-inc-ups-stakes-by-vinod-jacob/ F1: India Inc ups stakes]

[[Category:Formula One constructors]]
[[Category:Formula One entrants]]

Force India - Revision history

Red marquis at 18:07, 10 February 2010

Red marquis at 18:05, 10 February 2010