- Force India
New Force India looks set for further delay
Force India's new car is unlikely to make an appearance on track until the final test of the pre-season but the team is still planning to attend the second test with its 2014 car.
Force India skipped the first test in Jerez this week believing there was little to gain from taking part with its 2014 car on an unrepresentative circuit. Barcelona also hosts the Spanish Grand Prix and is a near perfect proving ground for new cars, so the team is keen to test the new Pirelli tyres even if it can't run them on the delayed VJM08.
"Although everybody is working towards getting the VJM08 to the next test session in Barcelona, it's more likely the new car will appear at the final Barcelona test," the team said in a statement. "So, that would mean running the 2014 car at the first Barcelona test."
The team's absence has sparked rumours about its financial position, but team principal Vijay Mallya is bullish about building on last year's good season.
"We've come a long way in those eight years and the goal is to keep progressing," he said. "We were on the podium last year, which was an important boost, but actually I think we deserved more than that. So the target is to achieve more podiums in 2015 and we've taken some decisions recently to ensure we remain competitive.
Force India's new livery was launched in Mexico last month. "For example, moving all our wind tunnel work to the Toyota facility in Cologne gives us access to a tunnel that is a match for any team on the grid. Of course, there will be some transition time as we adapt and get up-to-speed, but I'm confident it's a decision that will stand us in good stead for the future."
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