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Force India gave their new Formula One car its track debut on Friday with only one driver, Britain’s Paul Di Resta, confirmed for the season and mystery surrounding the identity of his eventual team mate.
Germany’s Adrian Sutil, a former Force India driver, and Ferrari-backed Frenchman Jules Bianchi, last year’s reserve, have both been linked to the vacant seat but the team were in no rush to make a decision.
“Paul’s here,” grinned deputy team principal Bob Fernley, representing the absent aviation and liquor baron Vijay Mallya who co-owns and runs the team, when asked what the situation was with the drivers.
“We need to be very careful where we are going and the shareholders will take as long as necessary. I suspect that we will probably announce the two remaining drivers (race and reserve)...before testing in Barcelona.”
In the absence of driver news, the car was the star – with the black cover coming off the VJM06 on a cold and damp morning before the Mercedes-powered vehicle was wheeled out of the garage to be fired up for the first laps by any team this year.
It immediately stood out for its ‘nose job’ – a ‘modesty panel’ turning what was a stepped nose last season into a smooth and flowing front end. Flying solo at the team, he said, also had its benefits. “I’m quite enjoying the attention,” said Di Resta, who will be one of four Britons on the grid this season now that rookie Max Chilton has joined Marussia.
