Force India and its drivers will have a point to prove when the 2011 Formula One season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
For the team, it will be an opportunity to give the big guns a run for their money and prove that performance over the last two seasons were not just flashes in the pan. For Adrian Sutil, the most experienced driver in the team, it will be a mission to turn it into one of his best season, after finishing 11th in the championship in 2010, his best position since making his debut in 2007.
For Paul di Resta, who finally managed to break into Formula One, the target will be to cement his position or go a step further, which has seen Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel (his rivals from junior days) already being crowned champions.
Sutil, who was in the city with Di Resta and test driver Nico Hulkenberg for a promotional event, feels if they get their act together, they can improve upon last two years’ performance.
“In the first two years, we were constantly on the up. However, it will now get difficult because as you go up, the competition becomes strong. But I’ve high expectations from the 2011 season both for myself and the team. I would like to finish in the top-eight on the driver standings whereas from the team perspective, we would want to go better than last year’s seventh slot in the constructors’ championship,” said Sutil.
Speaking of the team’s new car, the VJM04, Sutil said, “The car is pretty good. We don’t have too many problems. It is easier to handle. The engine and KERS are very good. However, we need to concentrate on the area of generating more downforce. We have to understand the whole new system as well.”
Di Resta, who was the team’s test driver last season, was ecstatic about making his debut. “It has taken a long time to make it here. I’m really excited ahead of the first race in Melbourne. But my focus will be on performance, getting the best out of the car on Friday and Saturday to see what areas we need to improve as a team for the race. As for my personal expectations, I am going to be realistic and gauge how it goes over the weekend and focus on the job in hand,” Di Resta said.
This season will see a set of new rules being introduced like the moveable rear wing, return of KERS but it’s the tyres that have been the talking point in all the test sessions leading to the first GP. Pirelli, who replaced Bridgestone, have been criticised by most of the drivers for not being durable.
Sutil is one of the concerned drivers but feels it will give the sport a new dimension. “The Bridgestone tyres lasted a bit too long. As a result, it was possible to complete the race on a single tyre. Pirelli though have done it differently.
Now, the tyres will wear rapidly and as a result lose their grip in quick time. We will be witnessing lots of pit stops and races will have more action,” he said.
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