If test results are anything to go by, Force India has a shot at bettering their last year’s performance and even upsetting the applecart of the top-four teams — Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes — this season.
Force India gave a glimpse of what to expect from them in 2010 in the first free practice on Friday when German Adrian Sutil (right) topped the time sheets. In the second session, however, Sutil finished 12th.
Owner Vijay Mallya has made it clear that he would be disappointed if Force India aren’t regularly in the points and he also expects podium finishes.
“The 2009 performance is enough in itself to set the bar much higher this season. But we’re really determined to take it to the next level. Regular points and the odd podium have got to be the aim and we know it is possible. I have a lot of faith in the drivers and the technical staff. I think we’ve got into a very good rhythm,” said Mallya.
Over 12 days of winter testing, the team completed 4,000 kilometres and unlike last season, Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi, have a very good package at the beginning of the season itself.
But Sutil is not going gaga about the team’s good showing during winter tests and is adopting a cautious approach ahead of Bahrain. “Hopefully, we’ll be in the top-10. I think that should be possible. I hope we score a few points. It is very difficult to say what else will happen. But I am fine with any position within the top 10 — that’s my goal for the moment,” Sutil said.
For Liuzzi, it’s an opportunity to seal his place in Formula One after taking over the driving duties mid-season from Giancarlo Fisichella, who joined Ferrari. “In my five years of F1 this is definitely the best car I’ve driven. It’s well balanced. It makes me feel so much stronger and confident. Of course, you can never know exactly where you stand compared to the others. But we can go to Bahrain feeling optimistic and positive,” said Liuzzi.
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