Force India team principal and managing director Vijay Mallya promises more upgrades over the second half of the season and would like his squad’s next major evolution to be ready for the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Silverstone-based outfit has already brought a lot of new developments to its 2015 challenger by launching a B-spec version at its home event in early July.
Although last weekend’s race at Spa saw Lotus move ahead of Force India in the Constructors’ race, Mallya remains confident in the potential shown by the revised VJM08.
“Now that we are running the B-spec car there are definitely more things to come as it is a lot more competitive than the A-spec car, which is showing in track performance,” Mallya told the official Formula One website.
“We will introduce additional upgrades in the course of the second half of the season and hopefully recapture P5 in the standings. That is the objective.”
Asked whether next October’s Russian Grand Prix was the most likely timeframe for Force India to take its next big step, Mallya replied: “I would actually like to bring this upgrade to Singapore.
At the end of the British Grand Prix weekend, Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley actually told F1i that they were now looking to challenge Red Bull’s fourth place.
While Milton Keynes’ resurgence over the summer makes it a more difficult goal to reach, Mallya believes it can be achieved next year.
“I have set my targets for the team, and we are doing very well in achieving them. I will not get carried away saying that we will achieve P4 this season, but there is no reason why we should not target that in 2016.
“2016 is carry over from this season and when the B-spec delivers what we believe it has the potential to, then why not? 2017 is a whole different ballgame. My guess is that the cars will have to be ‘re-invented’ again - and we will start early to stay ahead of the game.”
Click here for a lighter look at the Belgian Grand Prix, courtesy of F1i special contributor Eric Silbermann.
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