The Force India F1 Team are to reveal their second driver for the 2013 season after the launch of their VJM06 race car.
The move is an unusual one, as the Silverstone team tries to narrow down its selection. Rumours suggest it is down to just Adrian Sutil and Jules Bianchi, with Ferrari keen to push their driver academy member in to the race seat and Sutil looking to return to Formula 1 after a year out.
Deputy Team Principal Robert Fernley said to Autosport "No. The launch is to launch the VJ06.”, revealing that the big reveal would not contain the announcement of the second driver.
The former Jordan squad had a successful 2012 season, with drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Paul Di Resta consistently scoring points and impressing overall. The former has moved to Sauber this season, promoting Di Resta to the team leader role but leaving a vacancy.
Some think that the delay suggests Sutil is returning to the team, but the additional time taken is due to sorting out legal documents due to the German having a criminal record after an incident in 2011.
Gossip is also circulating about financial difficulties for the team, as team principal Vijay Mallya's other businesses are suffering. However Force India, who finished seventh in the constructors last season, have just had a £50million investment boost from shareholders.
This season could also see the end of their engine partnership with Mercedes, 2014 prices look set to rise. They could revert back to the Ferrari engines if the price is too high.
They will launch their new 2013 challenger on February 1st, with drivers announcements expected not long after that.
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| (c) Force India F1 Team |
Deputy Team Principal Robert Fernley said to Autosport "No. The launch is to launch the VJ06.”, revealing that the big reveal would not contain the announcement of the second driver.
The former Jordan squad had a successful 2012 season, with drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Paul Di Resta consistently scoring points and impressing overall. The former has moved to Sauber this season, promoting Di Resta to the team leader role but leaving a vacancy.
Some think that the delay suggests Sutil is returning to the team, but the additional time taken is due to sorting out legal documents due to the German having a criminal record after an incident in 2011.
Gossip is also circulating about financial difficulties for the team, as team principal Vijay Mallya's other businesses are suffering. However Force India, who finished seventh in the constructors last season, have just had a £50million investment boost from shareholders.
This season could also see the end of their engine partnership with Mercedes, 2014 prices look set to rise. They could revert back to the Ferrari engines if the price is too high.
They will launch their new 2013 challenger on February 1st, with drivers announcements expected not long after that.
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