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Force India: The Quiet Achievers
Finishing with both cars in the top-10 and earning five points in Monaco was an impressive achievement for a team who, until 2010, had struggled to get one car into the top-15 on a consistent basis.
Pre-season testing in the 60th anniversary of Formula One was dominated by those who were expected to contend for this years' title. Time after time, the top two would be either of Red Bull, Mclaren, Ferrari or Mercedes backing. However, the team who gained relatively-small media attention, Vijay Mallya's Force India, was consistently punching with the "big boys of Formula One", whilst the attention of the media focused elsewhere.
Unlike Peter Sauber's BMW Sauber Ferrari, Force India have managed to deliver the speed that they promised in testing, in a race weekend. But whilst the results aren't enough to make them title-contending, win or even score podium positions, Force India's push to points-scoring positions at every venue in the season thus-far make any analyser curious (and intrigued) of what results may lay in the future.
A pole position and second place at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in 2009 is, so far, their best result in the top series of motorsport. The Mike Gascoyne-inspired VJM02 thrived on engine-reliant, low-downforce circuits like that of Spa and Monza. But where it struggled, the VJM03 has made amends. Unlike its predecessor, Force India's 2010 challenger, in the hands of Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi and German Adrian Sutil, has been able to be consistent at all venues thus-far in 2010. From the deserts of Bahrain to the avenues of Monaco, Mallya's team has managed to deliver results they had hoped for in the pre-season.
Sitting above the ailing WilliamsF1 team, sixth in the constructors title is most-likely where the season will conclude for the Indian team. Is this a disappointment for the team? Very few who take an interest in Formula One could suggest that it is.
Since purchasing the financially-crippled Spyker-F1, Force India's management group has gradually strengthened the team to becoming worthy - and capable - of points. In consistent increments of 5 race-positions per-season, Mallya's team has gone from 17th-positions, to 7th-position-results in a space of two years.
Now sitting in the points, is it likely that in 2011 the squad will jump up to consistent-podiums? It is unlikely, but not impossible. The rise of Red Bull Racing has proven that, in the 21st century, teams without major manufacturer backing can still rise to the top of Formula One. It's not suggestible that anybody rush to place bets on Force India as being the 2011 World Constructor's Champions, but it is very possible that in the next few seasons, Vijay Mallya's Force India may become a powerful force in Formula One - especially with Mercedes' continued support.
TH
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To finish above the likes of Williams (who should really be doing much better considering their history), is a real achievement for a team, who just a few years ago under the Spyker guise scored one point.
I for one really enjoy seeing an underdog score points and regularly make Q3, especially one which isn't really thought about as a mainstream team, like Williams, Renault, etc.
Great article too. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.