Force India 2009 Season Preview: Can They Move Off The Bottom Of The Ladder?

Daniel Chalmers Paul MurtaghFeb 24, 2009

Welcome to the first part of Paul Murtagh and Daniel Chalmers’ 2009 season preview. Firstly we are going to be looking at all the teams one by one, and discuss their potential, and predict their fortunes for the season ahead.

The first team to under our close scrutiny is the Force India team.

Stats and Information

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Kingfisher Force India Mercedes

Team Principal: Vijay Mallya

Technical Director: James Key

Team Base: Silverstone, UK

Chassis: VJM-02

Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 108W V8

Tyres: Bridgestone

Grand Prix: 18

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Poles: 0

Fastest Laps: 0

Points: 0

Past Seasons

2008 Position: 10^th (0 points)

First Driver: Giancarlo Fisichella

Nationality: Italian

Age: 36

GPs started: 212

Wins: 3

Podiums: 18

Pole Positions: 3

Fastest Laps: 2

Points: 267

Best Season: 4^th (2006)

Second Driver: Adrian Sutil

Nationality: German

Age: 26

GPs started: 35

Wins: 0

Podiums: 0

Pole Positions: 0

Fastest Laps: 0

Points: 1

Best Season: 19^th (2007)

Discussion

Paul Murtagh

So we begin our previews this year with Force India, the team who finished bottom of the pile in 2008. How did you rate their first season at racing's top table?

Daniel Chalmers

They may have got no points and finished bottom, but this actually masked the big improvement they made. They were regularly less than two seconds off the pace which is good for a backmarker team. In the past being two seconds off the pace could get you into the top 10.

Paul Murtagh

They started well but slipped back as the season went on, but they had some high points such as Sutil's run at Monaco, and Fisi running as high as fourth at Interlagos. Do you think that their drivers did enough to be given another crack this season?

Daniel Chalmers

I am not too sure about Sutil. Apart from that race in Monaco he was pretty average throughout the season, and generally slower than teammate Fisichella. I think if it wasn't for Monaco he would be out of the job. This season he really needs to prove himself. It's his final chance in F1. Fisichella drove very well last season and his experience is invaluable to a team like Force India.

Paul Murtagh

Did Fisi's experience help keep the team within 2secs off the front runners do you think? I thought he did a decent job for a driver that some critics said was finished at the end of 2007.

Daniel Chalmers

I think Fisichella is one of those drivers who can get the best out of a car that isn't up to par. We have seen him getting giant killing results throughout his career. There is no pressure on him in that situation, if he doesn't get a result nobody will notice, but if he does get a result then he will get all the praise. It's like being a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. If you make the save then you are a hero. But when there is expectation to get a result as there is in a front running team, then he seems to crack under that intense pressure as we saw at Renault.

Paul Murtagh

Do you think that, under the new situation at Force India, Fisi is the right man for the job? There will be alot of pressure on him this year to keep moving the team forward

Daniel Chalmers

I think the problem with Force India (and the previous team names) has been a lack of stability. This has prevented progress on the track. Keeping Fisichella is part of retaining that newfound stability that this team has recently found. It's the first time since 2005 that the team has been called the same name two seasons running!

Paul Murtagh

Is stability the key to the team this year? Could that be part of the reason why they have kept Sutil? As you say this is the first time in four years that there has been solid stability in the team

Daniel Chalmers

I think stability is very important for this team. As a mechanic or engineer it must be very hard to focus on the job in hand when the name above the door keeps on changing every 5 mins.

Paul Murtagh

Do you expect Sutil to do better this season? It is his third year with the team so they know how he works, but like you said he underperformed last season

Daniel Chalmers

A lot depends on how he adapts to the new 2009 F1 car. He is quite an aggressive driver so with Slicks that might bode well for him. He always struggled to adapt to the recent generation of Bridgestone tyres which didn't match his aggressive style of driving. So he may end up being seemingly one of the most improved drivers of 2008

Paul Murtagh

I agree that the tyres last season never suited his driving style, and I think that could have been the main reason behind his poor performances in the dry compared to the wet, despite his good wet weather skills.

Force India are starting a technical collaboration with McLaren this season. Is this the right choice for the team?

Daniel Chalmers

I think that is a great move for the team. Obviously it will save them money and they will get a great chassis and engine out of it. If it all gels then Force India could have a decent season.

Paul Murtagh

Do you think this could be the start of a relationship that sees Force India become a customer of McLaren in terms of chassis?

Daniel Chalmers

I think there is a good chance of that. This relationship gives Force India a very good base to build on, and they will upset teams who don't make a good job of the new regulations next season. What do you make of Mike Gascoigne’s exit from the team?

Paul Murtagh

It was a shock to hear about it as Mike seemed to be a key element of the team. But perhaps all wasn't well behind the scenes, and Mike certainly had some harsh words about the team after. But maybe with the Macca link-up they felt like they didn't need him anymore - only time will tell whether they were right to remove him

Daniel Chalmers

He has always struck me as someone who doesn't like it when things aren't done his way. We saw this happen at Toyota when he didn't like the direction the team was taking. I think he has always been against the idea of customer cars and this may have had an influence in this instance. But one person isn't bigger than the team, and Force India have other good members of staff on their team including the likes of James Key

Paul says:

Do you think that, if that was the case, then the team should have given him the freedom to work his own way? After all he has designed race-winning cars for both Jordan and Renault

Paul Murtagh

I think only time will tell whether the team have gone down the right path or not. In this current economic climate I think it is the right way to go. It's going to be very hard to be competitive without linking up with another team. But will they ever be allowed to beat McLaren? Maybe when cost cuts set in Force India are better off designing their own car again if they want to win.

Daniel Chalmers

Linking with McLaren will be a successful short-term option but maybe not that successful in the long term. They will get some points next season, but I can't see this team ever getting further than that to be honest as things stand.

Paul Murtagh

We have seen customer teams in the past (Aguri, Toro Rosso) beating their senior teams but I can't see this happening with this agreement so both have nothing to lose. Do you think that they can improve on last year in terms of points and championship positions?

Daniel Chalmers

I can't see them having a no score season. I think they will get some points but the competition is going to be very tough. The McLaren link-up will give then a good solid car so they could potentially beat a team that completely mucks up the new regulations. So this could allow them to be a surprise, but I can't see them making a huge impact on this championship. There is a chance of them finishing above the bottom spot

Paul Murtagh

I tend to agree with you on this one. The Macca link-u could take a while to click but by the second half of the season I think they could be challenging for points. But I think this season will be very competitive and it could be the other teams moving forward and not their own lack of competitiveness that will cost FIF1 a chance of moving further up the

Daniel Chalmers

Do you think Force India have a long-term F1 future?

Paul Murtagh

I hope so. Mallya definitely seems to have a long-term plan for the team, and has said all along he wants a Force India on the podium at the first Indian GP. He has a long link with motorsport. I think as long as there is potential with his team to move forward he will stay interested. Without a doubt he has more interest than any of the previous owners except EJ and he has the drive to succeed

Daniel Chalmers

I like the guy and I think he has a lot of offer. Like you say he seems to have the ambition and will to succeed. He is going to be putting a lot more time and energy into the team next season. This isn't just a bit of fun for him or the chance to make a quick few million dollars. I wish the team good luck this season.

Paul Murtagh

So do I. Most people like to see the minnows do well (Toro Rosso for example last season) and if Force India get a good result this year it will be very popular and very well deserved. A good solid car and a little more luck and the team will continue to move forward this season

Daniel Chalmers

We have already touched on the potential long-term success and plan of this team. Do you think that Indian GP podium will ever be possible realistically?

Paul Murtagh

If you had asked me at the end of last season I would have said no, but with the Macca link-up and the possibility of a customer chassis in 2010 I think it is. They have a good technical team there and the goal will be to achieve that podium. Points will be the target this season, with regular points in 2010 before that podium in 2011.

Daniel Chalmers

As I said earlier I am not sure whether this Mclaren link-up will ever bring anything more than a solid car and some points. So I may have to disagree with you there. But you never know they may get lucky. I think that podium in India will only come in a wet race. Does it often rain in India?

Paul Murtagh

I don't think so but I think all the locals could be performing a rain dance just in case!

Team Marks /10

Chassis: 8

Engine: 9

Aerodynamics: 6

Mechanical grip: 6

Drivers: 6

Reliability: 7

Total: 42/60

Three key debating points

Have Force India done the right thing by sticking by their 2008 drivers?