Force India upgrade almost as big as B-spec

Force India’s planned aerodynamic upgrade for the Spanish Grand Prix is almost as big as last year’s B-spec car, according to chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer.

2015 saw Force India launch with an underdeveloped car for the first part of the season before the team introduced a B-spec car at the British Grand Prix. The team’s performance improved markedly from that point and it eventually secured a best-ever fifth place in the constructors’ championship.

This season has resulted in Force India taking a similar approach, with Szafnauer telling F1i the Barcelona upgrade is substantial in terms of size.

“Yeah we’ve got significant aero updates coming to Barcelona,” Szafnauer said. “Similar [to last year’s B-spec] in the amount of parts. So similar.

“It’s a significant step in performance in the wind tunnel and CFD but you never know if that translates, so we’ll see in Barcelona.”

While Force India only scored two points in Russia courtesy of Sergio Perez, Szafnauer says the team is encouraged by the pace the car showed even if circumstances again failed to turn that into significant points.

“Yeah it was really bitter after lap one with one puncture and one out. The good news is Sergio’s underlying pace was good. He fought back, overtook the Toro Rosso, couldn’t get past the Haas but I think our pace was quicker. If we had been able to get past I think we would have left him. So that’s good.

“[The pace was] very good. When Sergio was in clear air - when [Jenson] Button pitted in front of him - he was able to go one, one and a half seconds per lap quicker. And we were also trying to nurse the tyres at that point, had he not we would have been able to go even quicker. So the pace was good.”

OPINION: Why Red Bull is right to promote Max Verstappen

Silbermann says ... Red Bull Clips Your Wings

Scene at the Russian Grand Prix