Force India’s Otmar Szafnauer has explained the reasoning for the team skipping the Jerez test and denies it is due to financial trouble.
Having already announced it would not launch its 2015 car until the second test in Barcelona, Force India had planned on running last year’s car at the first test which starts on February 1. However, just four days before the start of testing the team opted not to travel to Jerez because “the learning opportunities would have been limited”, leading to speculation the team’s future is uncertain.
However, COO Szafnauer insists it simply made no sense for Force India to run the old car during the first test.
“There was little use going to Jerez with an obsolete car,” Szafnauer said. “Skipping the first test session will actually allow us to save £500,000. Both the engine and transmission are being tested by Mercedes, so we’d rather focus our resources on fine-tuning the chassis. We are 90% certain we can introduce it in Barcelona for the second test.
“We currently employ 380 people and all salaries have been paid. Same with our suppliers. We’ve just announced new sponsors in Mexico, so everything is looking good. I can confirm that things are going as planned and that we are on target to achieve our working programme.”
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