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Force India VJM10

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Force India VJM10
Esteban Ocon driving the VJM10 at the Malaysian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorForce India
Designer(s)
  • Andrew Green (Technical Director)
  • Ian Hall (Chief Designer)
  • Bruce Eddington (Chief Engineer, Composites)
  • Dan Carpenter (Chief Engineer, Mechanical Design)
  • Andrew Brown (Head of R&D)
  • Jonathan Marshall (Head of Vehicle Science)
  • Simon Phillips (Head of Aerodynamics)
  • Guru Johl (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorForce India VJM09
SuccessorForce India VJM11
Technical specifications[1][2]
ChassisCarbon fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque with Zylon side anti-intrusion panels
Suspension (front)Aluminium alloy uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod inboard chassis mounted torsion springs and anti-roll bar assembly
Suspension (rear)Aluminium alloy uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod hydro-mechanical springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly
EngineMercedes-AMG F1 M08 EQ Power+, 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorKinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
TransmissionMercedes semi-automatic sequential gearbox with eight forward and one reverse gear
FuelPetronas Primax
LubricantsPetronas Syntium & Tutela
Brakes
Tyres
Competition history
Notable entrantsSahara Force India F1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2017 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
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The Force India VJM10 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by Force India to compete during the 2017 Formula One season. The car was driven by Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon,[3] who joined the team after Nico Hülkenberg left the team at the end of the 2016 season. It made its competitive début at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix.

Competition history

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The VJM10 sporting the original livery during pre-season testing

Initially, during pre-season testing the team struggled due to an overweight car and was mired in a very tight midfield battle which included Toro Rosso, Haas, Renault and the Williams team.

Ocon battling against Haas' Romain Grosjean at the Chinese Grand Prix

The first 5 races saw both drivers record double points finishes, the only team to do so in 2017. This included a hugely impressive 22 points haul at the Spanish GP where Pérez and Ocon finished 4th and 5th respectively. However, the next race at Monaco GP brought the team's points streak to an abrupt end after Pérez had contact with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Ocon picked up a puncture, though Pérez managed to set the fastest lap of the race to salvage something from the poor weekend. At the next race in Canada, they managed to return to their trend of double points finish.

However, at Azerbaijan, both drivers collided with each other whilst fighting for a possible win. This caused Pérez to damage his front left suspension and lose his front wing and eventually retire from the race for the first time in 37 races due to the damage sustained, while Ocon survived with a puncture to recover to 6th after a red flag.

Pérez competing at his home race, the Mexican Grand Prix

Ocon scored points at the next 10 races, with his retirement at the Brazilian Grand Prix halting his 12 consecutive points scoring streak. After his only retirement of the season in Azerbaijan, Pérez finished in the points for every race, barring the Belgian Grand Prix. Although Force India finished 4th in the constructors' standings for the second year in a row, they did score more points then in 2016, with 187, making the 2017 season points tally the highest in the team's history.

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS CHN BHR RUS ESP MON CAN AZE AUT GBR HUN BEL ITA SIN MAL JPN USA MEX BRA ABU
2017 Force India Mercedes M08 EQ Power+ P
Esteban Ocon 10 10 10 7 5 12 6 6 8 8 9 9 6 10 10 6 6 5 Ret 8 187 4th
Sergio Pérez 7 9 7 6 4 13 5 Ret 7 9 8 17† 9 5 6 7 8 7 9 7
  • † – Driver failed to finish the race, but was classified as they had completed over 90% of the winner's race distance.

References

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  1. ^ "Mercedes-AMG F1 M08 EQ Power+ Technical Specification". mercedesamgf1.com. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  2. ^ Keith Collantine (17 June 2016). "Pirelli confirms new three-year F1 deal to 2019". f1fanatic.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. ^ "F1 - 2017 Provisional Entry List". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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