Having just completed their debut season, Force India was the only Ferrari powered F1 team not scoring a single point this season and thus, Team owner Dr. Vijay Malia has decided to seek a new direction for Force India’s sophomore season, as I’m sure you’ve already heard that the squad will be powered by Mercedes Benz next year.
The 5yr deal is not only for the 2.4 liter V-8 lump, but also includes the rest of the drive train, i.e.; gearbox/transmission and hydraulics, along with the “optional” KERS system, as this is not a typical customer arrangement.
Actually, Malia’s team will take on the role of a pseudo McLaren “B” Team, *regardless of McLaren’s Martin whitmarsh’s comments) as they’ve formed an alliance that includes access to the Woking based squads network of suppliers.
Simon Roberts, former Racing Operations Director of McLaren, has just been appointed as the teams new CEO, with further management shake up including the dismissal of current Team manager Collin Kolles and Chief Designer Mike Gascoyne.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Fisichella is vehemently claiming he’s got an iron-clad contract to drive next season alongside Adrian Sutil, but we all know there’s NO such thing as an iron-clad contract in Formula 1, so perhaps we’ll see DTM protégé Paul di Resta taking over in the future?
