Force India VJM04 - first pictures

Force India VJM04 – first pictures

2011 F1 cars

February 8, 2011 at 2:02 pm by Keith Collantine

134 comments

Force India have revealed the first images of their 2011 F1 car, the VJM04.

: Force India VJM04

: Force India VJM04

: Force India VJM04

: Force India VJM04

: Force India VJM04

The VJM04 is the first car designed by new technical director Andrew Green. Its predecessor achieved the team’s best-ever constructors’ championship position of seventh.

This year the team say they want to finish in the top five.

The team will use Mercedes power for the third year in a row.

Chairman Vijay Mallya said: “This year there is even more to be optimistic about. We’ve got three race drivers that are hungry to take the next steps in their careers, whether that be points, podiums or wins.

“We have an experienced technical team that have the ingenuity, flexibility and drive to adapt to the new wave of rule changes, and we also have the tools and resources in our partnerships with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines to aim even higher.

“Not to mention the very special event, and one that I personally can’t wait for, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. What better place would there be to reach some of those aims than on our home soil?”

Adrian Sutil said he hopes to finish in the top ten in the drivers’ championship for the first time this year:

“The progress the team has shown over the past two years has been very impressive and what I’ve seen in the factory and at the wind tunnel over the past weeks indicates that the rate will continue this year.”

Paul di Resta makes his F1 debut with the team this year. He said: “I don’t want to say exact targets on record as there are so many factors that can come into play.

“What I do want to do is to have a positive approach, finish, be consistent and contribute strongly to the team’s overall performance. We’ve got high aims of finishing in a good constructors’ championship position and I know that I’ve got to play my part in this.”

Technical director Andy Green explained some of the changes on the car:

“The most obvious visual change is that we’ve gone away from a conventional roll-hoop to a blade. This gives us a small packaging improvement compared to a more conventional style.

“The engine cover is different, in-line with the abolition of the F-duct system. But there are a lot of differences under the skin that people won’t necessarily notice.”

“We’ve recovered a lot of the aerodynamic performance, we believe. We still have a little bit to go, but we are still in the process of the realignment after the end of last season, because it does take a long time to move aerodynamically from one position to another.

“The movable wing is a whole new game, and we’ll be trying to exploit its performance to the max.

“Exhaust management will also be a big area of development this year. There will be an upgrade for the first race, so there are some changes that will come into effect at the Bahrain test. Further down the line there are some big updates for the front of the car coming in for the first European race.”

The team have recruited a new senior tyre engineer, Jun Matsusaki, to help with the switch to Pirelli tyres.

Greem also confirmed the new car will use a Kinetic Energy Recovery System: “‘The Mercedes KERS system looks very strong, and we’re really happy with it.

“We’ve done a lot of running in the simulator, so the drivers are well up to speed with how to use it. We’re well developed with what we have to do for harvesting and deployment. It’s smaller and lighter than in 2009, and packaging required very few vehicle compromises.”

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134 comments on Force India VJM04 – first pictures

Rob Wilson said on 8th February 2011, 15:46

I Quite like this new livery, maybe they should have gone for a black front wing as well! Well after all the 2011 launches, i like the Mercedes & HRT liveries the most but the McLaren surely has to be the most innovative!

electrolite (@electrolite) said on 8th February 2011, 15:46

Ahh it’s still got a flabby nose!!

I think this will be one of those liveries which will look better in motion.

bodo said on 8th February 2011, 16:07

where is the beer bottle? looks like an irish flag .

- King Six said on 8th February 2011, 19:13
  
  Alcoholic beverage sponsors are plastered all over the car!
  
  - BBT said on 8th February 2011, 19:36
    
    I’m thirsty.
    
box this lap (@sebashuis) said on 8th February 2011, 16:08

I’m hoping that in the future there will be a F1 Team that brings back the “classic” white, green orange livery just like the new (laughable) trend in F1. Because I just love the colours so much!

Maciek said on 8th February 2011, 17:13

Hm.. well, the nose looks too much like last year’s to be what they will run come Bahrein, I think. I’ll wait for mopre detail pictures of the back end – it doesn’t show much because of the blade, but the air-box is very, very low compared to other cars, isn’t it? In this iteration it’s hard to say all that much – will wait to see new nose, etc. Not crazy about the livery, though.

McG (@mcg) said on 8th February 2011, 17:43

What a lovely car. There’s no reason why Force India shouldn’t be giving the top guys a run for their money this year.

The little change to the livery is a nice touch. And being a Glasgow man, I’m happy to see a Scottish sponsor – Whyte and Mackay and a Scottsh driver!

Mouse_Nightshirt (@mouse_nightshirt) said on 8th February 2011, 17:57

Hmmm. I think it needs some rhinoplasty.

frow14 said on 8th February 2011, 18:30

Well I have looked at all the pics all day and as far as I can see it is not much of a development on last year, a few bits n pieces but they’re either hiding something or have not comitted the cash to development……rumours coming through on a posiible sell out to US based consortium

- rojov123 (@rojov123) said on 9th February 2011, 0:57
  
  yup! the baron just wanted to finish his trial in F1, after the first run at the Indian Grand Prix. but Braitore seems to be trying to get a bit of stake in the FI.
  
Oscar Becker (@super_swede_96) said on 8th February 2011, 18:44

Nice with a little more orange in the livery but I hope they put their numbers on some other place than under the nosecone.

Hare (@hare) said on 8th February 2011, 19:15

The real question is… ‘Is this, the worlds fastest Indian?’

- Rits said on 9th February 2011, 15:54
  
  I doubt it, its not under 1000 cc’s and is definitey not a streamlined motorcycle.. :p
  
Tom said on 8th February 2011, 19:28

That roll structure us banned ive seen it on formula one site its a dangerous design with the blade and to the reply to some before about “when was the last time a f1 car was up side down” Valencia Mark webber

- BBT said on 8th February 2011, 19:37
  
  Oi, I posted that about Webber…. although the wings helped it land like a cat but on wheels
  
- Mouse_Nightshirt (@mouse_nightshirt) said on 8th February 2011, 20:43
  
  It is not banned. It is not banned. It is not banned. People really need to try reading the rules properly.
  
  The cross sectional area of the roll structure cannot be less than a certain number. As long as it is bigger than this, it is allowed.
  
  The chassis are homologated – do you think that the teams would really risk exclusion from the championship?
  
BBT said on 8th February 2011, 19:42

So now we have all the contenders, how about an article on the car in a matrix with the features with a tick or dot in the intersection on the team/car & feature.

KERS,
Integrated blown diffuser,
Blown floor,
Front suspension pull/push
Rear pull rod suspension
Rear push rod suspension
Fuel tank big enough (Virgin not tick, lol)
MRW
Front flexi wing ;-)
Pay drivers
etc.

- Anon said on 8th February 2011, 19:58
  
  Front pull rod? How?
  
  - BBT (@bbt) said on 8th February 2011, 20:56
    
    Well, not likely I agree (which is why I didn’t separate it out it was just an example I didn’t really think about it much), its never going to happen on high nosed cars, but not impossible….
    
    http://www.f1technical.net/articles/39
    
mingmong said on 8th February 2011, 21:05

Nice brake ducts.

BROOKSY007 (@brooksy007) said on 8th February 2011, 23:27

Just looking at the cars so far, I’d say the midfield is going to be almost every team except rb, ferrari and mclaren! Still not sold on the renault exhaust, might be more trouble than its worth!
I thinks its going to be great season!

AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 8th February 2011, 23:35

I like it, nice idea with the livery to blend the colours. Only real stand out thing to me is the engine air-intake is taking cues from the W01 like the T128.