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MAKING COMPROMISES
Instead of manufacturing its own gearbox, Force India purchased it from another team (Mercedes since 2014, McLaren before), which enables the Silverstone-based outfit to allocate its resources to essential levers of performance such as the aerodynamics, the suspension, etc. The VJM09 is fitted with the 2015-spec Mercedes transmission, which means the gearbox casing is slightly bigger than the 2016 model mounted on the W07.
There are still some inconveniences to outsourcing the manufacturing of parts. The Mercedes transmission forces the Force India engineers to use the same suspension pick-ups as on the Silver Arrows. Yet, the VJM09 and W07 are based around different aero concepts. Force India runs more rake on its challenger: the floor of the car forms a 1.9˚ angle with the ground against only 1˚ on the works Mercedes, according to German-language publication Auto Motor und Sport. Force India has still been able to keep its preferred car altitude though, and it is believed that the suspension pick-ups have been moved for 2017 and would thus suit better the design pursued by Green and his colleagues.
