Force India has launched its 2011 car, the VJM-04, which will carry the hopes of Adrian Sutil, British rookie Paul di Resta and test driver Nico Hulkenberg in the coming Formula One season. The team finished seventh in the constructors standings in 2010 -- its best-ever finish -- and chairman and team principal Vijay Mallya is expecting even better results in 2011.
"This year there is even more to be optimistic about. We've got three race drivers who are hungry to take the next steps in their careers, whether that be points, podiums or wins.
"We have an experienced technical team that has 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," Mallya said.
The VJM-04 will hit the track for the first time in the second pre-season test on Thursday after the team opted to evaluate the new Pirelli tyres on last year's chassis at the first testing in Valencia.
"I'm genuinely excited about the 2011 season. I just missed out on the top 10 last year in the drivers' standings -- I'm pretty hopeful I can get in there this season. 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," said Sutil.
"I feel very good and confident, the team and I know each other very well and we know how to get the most from each other," he added.
Di Resta, however, doesn't have any targets.
"I don't want to say exact targets on record as there are so many factors that can come into play. What I want to do is to have a positive approach, finish, be consistent and contribute strongly to the team's overall performance," di Resta said.
