planetf1.com

Im surprised about this as Vladivar has always been over the cars and was / is a VJM company, so dunno why Smirnoff would go on to a car that had its main competitor on it previously and owned by the principle

Who owns Smirnoff? Diageo

Who owns Vladivar? Whyte and Mackay
Who owns Whyte and Mackay? United Breweries
Who controls United Breweries? Diageo

They are the ones paying the sponsorship now and decide what goes on the car.

VJM is no longer in control of the crown jewels.

Despite the troubles they faced during pre-testing, they've done reasonably well today. 62 laps without reliability issues.

Perez was told his race pace was close to Ferraris.

With a good strategy, points seem to be in reach. If they do, it'll be a big relief considering all the gremlins they had. They may reach to their natural speed Spanish grand prix onwards as they'll be having a big upgrade.

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Feel The Fourth

With some luck & good strategy, both drivers scored points.

Who had thought they'd score 7 points in Melbourne after completing only 2 whole days in testing.

They now need to keep developing the car as Toro Rosso, Sauber & Lotus have raced ahead of them.

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Feel The Fourth

Priceless!

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Feel The Fourth

Maybe the Bahrain track suits the VJM08, it was a pleasure seeing the cars 8th & 11th!

All the best guys!

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Feel The Fourth

'Force India's B-spec VJM08 is set for its race debut at Silverstone this weekend and Matt Somerfield looks at some of the updates':

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3260/58869/Tech-Corner-The-B-Spec-VJM08
Excerpts from the article:

'The most obvious of which was the VJM08's new nose, which features two distinctive 'nostrils' in the upper surface of the nose, allowing airflow to pass through main body into the flow structure that normally passes either side of the nose tip and continues under the nose. To make use of this additional airflow the team also revised their turning vanes, splitting the forward element in two.

Whilst the nose draws your attention due to its striking presence, in the face of what now seem conservative designs by the others, the team were also testing a new front wing. The new front wing bears a striking resemblance to the one currently being used by Red Bull, with the canard previously mounted in the middle of the endplate, moved to a low slung rearward position. This changes how the pressure gradient builds and therefore how the airflow is pulled out and around the front wheel, changing the shape of the wake the tyre sheds. The main cascade now has two smaller winglets mounted from its endplate, which is supported by a small metal stay, these interrupt the flow over the tyre, changing its wake profile too. Of course the idea of these changes is to improve downforce both directly and downstream, however, efficiency is the name of the game in this current era with an onus placed on drag reduction too.'

'The full 'B-Spec' includes a new light weight monocoque along with a new floor, sidepods and cooling options, all of which the team are hoping are capable of catapulting them further up the grid.'

Pretty darn excited about this upgrade!

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Feel The Fourth

Did a bit more digging (as I'm interested in Scotch as well). Apparently Diageo couldn't hang onto Whyte and Mackay, so it's now owned by a PI based group.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cca1290c-d790 ... z3ebOHzOIQ

Whatever the case you are correct in that VJ is no longer the owner/owns interest in W&M/United Spirits in W&M.

Does anyone have full access to this article about the upgraded VJM08 by Craig Scarborough:

http://plus.autosport.com/premium/feature/6579/tech-force-india-unique-new-car/?_ga=1.209562516.706594187.1435579846

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Feel The Fourth

A detailed look (finally) of the updated parts on VJM08 by Matt Somerfield:

http://www.grandprixtimes.com/news/display/10523

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Feel The Fourth

The entire package of updates for the B-Spec car will only be available from Singapore onwards.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120319

Till now, only 50% of the upgrades have been installed & the remaining 50% will be added to the car at the Singaporean Grand Prix. Even after that, they'll keep updating the car.

I think it's a neat strategy to keep 5th in the WCC a more realistic target.

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Feel The Fourth

Yeah they've done pretty well to be where they are now. Hungary would have been a blow.

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Schumacher was better than Senna.

A very welcome podium for Force India & their fans alike.

It seems that Perez will be more capable of getting a podium than Hulk but afterall, both have got a good car & which is enough for the team to create a bigger gap in the WCC for 5th place.

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Feel The Fourth

Congratulations to Sahara Force India F1 Team for securing their best finish in the WCC till date - 5th!

Compared to the start they had at the start of the season, this result is quite remarkable!

Hope they only get stronger in 2016!

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Feel The Fourth

They've really earned a lot of respect these past few years and seem to have had a solid plan, taking small but consistent steps forward every year. It's really hard to see how they make the next step after this one though, especially if McLaren sort things out and if Renault enter as a constructor next year, competition will be very tough.

It feels like they need a serious cash injection to make the next step - it will be interesting to see if the Aston Martin deal will provide what they need, should it go through.

2 podiums in 3 races & still in the 1st half of the season looks very promising for this astounding team!

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Feel The Fourth

Can anyone tell me who designs the Force india F1 car. Their website has Andrew Green as the Technical Director, but is he the person who leads the design team?

If I was a billionaire investor wanting to get into f1 i would try to buy force india and its people. There is a lot of talent in that team. A healthy infusion of cash can help them accomplish wonders and vault them to the top.

2 podiums in 3 races & 2 front row qualifying's in 2 races. Feels good to see such results coming in Force India's camp.

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Feel The Fourth

Good to see Hulk & Checo score good points for Force India, making them closer to Williams in WCC.

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Feel The Fourth

Congratulations to this small but remarkable team leap to another milestone - 4th in the constructor's championship!

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Feel The Fourth

Been a Force India fan for years now. Had a long conversation with a Williams fan during the 2013 Canadian GP about why that is. I would love to talk to him again today. So happy for the team. Sorry to Hulk for the red flag ruining his podium. It was as good as his. Keep up these good results.

Went to Montreal this year as well and was one of three people I saw with Force India gear. Hopefully next time I go it will be three hundred.

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Proudly supporting Force India first, Lewis Hamilton second.

A great interview from Akio Haga, the chief designer & project leader at the Force India team who's been with the team since the Jordan days, shares his experience through the years & with Force India:

http://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/f1/interview/index.html?adbsc=social_20160930_66430726&adbid=1251936511503911&adbpl=fb&adbpr=468039426560294#page=2

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Feel The Fourth

Great news for Force India!

Force India has secured a multi year deal with Johnnie Walker. Their logos will replace Smirnoff logos in 2017.

http://www.eurosport.co.uk/formula-1/force-india-secures-johnnie-walker-deal_sto5988665/story.shtml

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Feel The Fourth

So McLaren lose another sponsor (in 2018)?

Great news for FI - and a good move for Johnnie Walker I feel, the FI does seem to get a lot of (well deserved!) coverage.

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Top Three Team Champions 2017 (With Jezza13)
Group Pick 'Em 2016 Champion

Even though Johnnie Walker will be visible on the McLaren car in 2017, it'll be prominent on the Force India cars. Having a multi year deal with Force India, probably implies they'll leave McLaren after 2017.

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Feel The Fourth

Traitors! I'll never drink Johnnie Walker again as long as I live!!!

... on the plus side, I like Smirnoff better anyway.

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PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 15 podiums): 3rd in 2016
TOP THREE CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): Champions in 2015 & 2018 | 2nd in 2017 & 2019
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 USA & P-F1 Champion

Vijay Mallya arrested in London

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vijay-ma ... on-1682826

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I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

The car of this team seems the most filled up (to the brim) with sponsors, which really pleases me:


Source - http://www.Facebook com

BTW, they've added 2 more sponsors as well.

Sportsbible, one of the fastest growing sport communities in digital world:
http://www.forceindiaf1.com/news/sahara-force-india-launches-partnership-sportbible

Breast Cancer Care, a world leading charity for the same cause, agrees to a multi year deal with the team:
https://www.f1today.net/en/news/f1/226516/force-india-announce-partnership-with-breast-cancer-care

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Feel The Fourth

Not sure how happy I am at that news.

I love Force India, I think most F1 fans do, due to the way they've consistently punched above their weight in recent years and appear to be a well run team.

However, a sudden surge of sponsors would indicate they've either got the best marketing team on the planet or they are selling space on the cheap because they're desperate for cash now. I hope the former, I suspect the latter.

A 3rd sponsor this week being added to the already growing list of Force India.

Unifin, a specialist financial firm joins hands with the team:

http://www.forceindiaf1.com/news/unifin-partners-sahara-force-india

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Feel The Fourth

Congratulations to the Force India team for securing 4th place in the Constructor's Championship 2nd year in a row.

Next year, will be their toughest test with McLaren, Renault & possibly Williams even improving. However, Force India should remain close on their heels.

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Feel The Fourth

Yes, amazing result again.

I think you are right about next year.
Renault are doing their last season in formula E to concentrate on F1.
And surely McLaren will be up there with their new engines.
Force India might be fighting for 6th with Williams in 2018.

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Dan the man!

Yeah, I think this is as good as it will get for FI.

In a normal race you would have to agree, but it does look as though if they keep hold of Ocon they could get a podium if things went their way. I wonder how much better he cold get?

Yeah next year it will be more competitive in midfield

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Sir Stirling Moss "Quite frankly, Kimi Raikkonen is the fastest driver in the world"

Imagine if Honda engines do work good enough to put Toro Rosso in the mix!

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Feel The Fourth

Yes a big Well Done to Force India for securing 4th in the Constructors.

Punching above their weight once again and proving that last year wasn't a once off. Pound for pound the best performing team on the grid

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I don't rely entirely on God

I rely on Prost

Well done to the team. I didn't think they would get 4th before the year started. I'm not going to doubt them next year either. 4th in 2018. You heard it here first

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Proudly supporting Force India first, Lewis Hamilton second.