Force India hopeful of resuming VJM11 development at Spa

With its future now secured, Force India will resume the development of its VJM11 and hopefully implement a series of important upgrades as soon as Spa at the end of the month.

The Silverstone-based outfit's depressed financial affairs had forced the team to put on hold the introduction of new-spec parts, a restriction that hampered its progress in the midfield.

However, Force India's takeover by a group of investors led by Lawrence Stroll has led to fresh investment and to the resumption of the team's development programme.

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Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer is ideally targeting new components for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 26, or for Monza a week later.

"There are some components that have been put on hold and I don’t know where the suppliers will get to because they don’t work over the break," Szafnauer told Motorsport.com.

"So, we’re only going to have a couple of days before Spa. But if not before then, before Monza."

While the team has received emergency funds to help it handle its immediate needs, the bulk of the new investment will reach Force India once the outfit exits administration.

Force India currently sits sixth in the F1 Constructors' standings, just seven points behind Haas, but Szafnauer believes the team can improve its position, if funding reaches it in time.

"We definitely need the funding otherwise this doesn’t work," said the American.

"We have to start paying our suppliers and purchase some needed materials for both upgrades for this year and for next year’s car.

"We’re in the midst of building next year’s car and without funding we wouldn’t have been able to do that. It’s much needed and couldn’t have come at a better time."

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