After several rumours about the possibility of a name change in Force India, the team is finally to stay with the same name. The team has unveiled its new car today on the pit lane of the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit.
At 8.00 this morning, Force India drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Pérez have uncovered the VJM-11, the car with which they will try to fight for the top 3 in the Constructors Championship after an incredible 2017 season. The car, whose main sponsor is BWT for the second consecutive year, still features pink as the main colour, but it has more white details than last year.
As for the aerodynamics, the VJM-11 looks quite similar than its predecessor. The front wing is almost identical than the VJM-10’s. Shark fin and T-Wing are obviously removed and the halo, which is also pink, features no aerodynamical elements like other cars.
Apart from Pérez and Ocon, the team’s development driver Nikita Mazepin was also on the unveiling act. The Russian driver will be the one who will drive the car today on its track debut. The other development driver, Nicolas Latifi, who is to drive the car on Thursday, was not at the circuit due to an illness.
The team ended fourth in Constructors’ Championships last season and completed its best year of its history but failed to get a podium finish. The team will try this year to improve what they achieved last season and will try to get closer to the top 3 teams.
With this unveiling, all cars have already been shown and pre-season testing officially starts today. The teams now have eight days to test everything they need at the Catalan track before the season officially begins in Albert Park, Australia, the 25th of March.