FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[KyrosV]

theyve had a major reshuffle too

Mallya to lead Force India team

Mallya wants to give the Force India team a clearer direction
Force India owner Vijay Mallya is to replace Colin Kolles as team principal in a major shake-up for next season.

Chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne, former technical director at Jordan, Renault and Toyota, has also left.

"Force India is my most difficult project and requires more direct input from my side and greater performance accountability," Mallya said.

"We have come a long way this season but we need more and that requires a radical reorganisation."

Indian billionaire Mallya bought the Spyker team along with Dutch businessman Michiel Mol in 2007 and the outfit raced under its new moniker for 2008.

However, Force India failed to win a single point in their first season with Giancarlo Fisichella's 10th place at the Spanish Grand Prix their best result.

Team-mate Adrian Sutil was running in a brilliant fourth place in Monaco before Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen slammed into the back of him in the closing laps, forcing him to retire.

Now Mallya, who has stuck with Fisichella and Sutil for 2009, has initiated a major management restructure as he seeks success on the track.

"Force India's senior management structure will be streamlined with immediate effect," the team said.

Mallya added: "I would like to thank Colin Kolles for his tireless efforts in keeping such a small team alive and to Mike Gascoyne for bringing his wealth of technical experience.

"But on Monday (10 November), I will announce the new technical direction of the team."

Gascoynes gone again

[FerrariFan63]

Gascoynes gone again

I've heard rumours that Gascoynes' personal skills are not at the same level as his technical skills.

[darwin dali]

Think the customer cars argument has went away with only 20 teams left and all now getting a share of the cash.

Gotta feel sorry for Williams now - they have been duped again.

20 teams? You wish!

[Gaz]

Think the customer cars argument has went away with only 20 teams left and all now getting a share of the cash.

Gotta feel sorry for Williams now - they have been duped again.

I expect them to be better than Toyota this year they then may sell the kers package or car chasis to them?

[Gaz]

This deal has gone ahead:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72063

Good news for both parties.

[bud]

This deal has gone ahead:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72063

Good news for both parties.

it sure is, it means double the testing for their KERS system

[Gaz]

This deal has gone ahead:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72063

Good news for both parties.

it sure is, it means double the testing for their KERS system

Yeh aloso means

Scuderia Marlboro Fiat's system can't be too good.

[McLaren Fan]

Great news for McLaren-Mercedes and Force India. I agree, longbow, that it indicates Ferrari are having some trouble with their KERS system, but Ferrari were never ones for innovation. They'll just nab everybody else's ideas as they've always done and use FIAT's money to make a few tweaks. KERS should have been made mandatory next season to reward innovation, not bow those who struggle on this front.

[nudge1964]

I know ferrari have admitted that they are having issues with their KERS just now, but im not so sure that the others arnt either, just they havnt said anything about it.
Who knows how mercedes development is going, or any of the others.
I dont think its so difficult to get a system working, but its a question of whther you can get it light enough and efficient enough to make it worthwhile using. I suspect we will get to the first race and a number of teams will be racing without KERS.
On a general note of engine supplies to customer teams...i am all for Max (for once) ensuring the cost is dramatically cut for the customer...But, how are they (the FIA) going to ensure that the customer has the ability to use the engines full performance?
That needs to be addressed. The customer team needs to have the ability to manage their bought engines...such as doing their own mapping. Hands up who thinks the Force India has the same power available as the Torro Rosso?

[bud]

GPWeek.com have stated that McLaren racing operations director Simon Roberts has been appointed CEO of Force India

[nudge1964]

GPWeek.com have stated that McLaren racing operations director Simon Roberts has been appointed CEO of Force India

really? wow.
well that does imply that the relationship will be somewhat closer than just a supplier/customer one.

[GianFisi]

What can we expect from Force India next season then? Hopefully Giancarlo and Adrian can score a few points each?

[2eyebrows]

Force India had the ugliest Livery I've seen for a long while, maybe that will improve too.

[nudge1964]

What can we expect from Force India next season then? Hopefully Giancarlo and Adrian can score a few points each?

that will depend on their chassis i guess. But one thing i think you can count on, is that the engine will have all its horses available....mercedes will want to show they have riased them off the bottom of the pack.

[KyrosV]

Hands up who thinks the Force India has the same power available as the Torro Rosso?

Gerhard Berger negotiated a deal to have the same power units as the works team about half way through the season. Thats why thier run of form shot up.