Andrew Green (GBR) Force India Technical Director in the Press Conference. Formula One World Championship, Rd11, Belgian Grand Prix, Practice, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Friday, 23 August 2013. © Sutton Images
The most obvious differences between the new Mercedes-powered VJM07 and last year’s VJM06 are the mandatory lower nose and the striking new black, orange and green livery. However, the Silverstone-based team's technical director Andrew Green is quick to emphasise just how different the new car is compared to its predecessor.
“Almost every single part is a new design, from the front wing right back to the diffuser,” he said. “The genetics of the VJM07 still lie in the 2013 car, but we've had to achieve the same results in a slightly different way.”
Team principal Vijay Malya hailed the ‘aggressive’ look of his team’s 2014 challenger.
“The VJM07 looks stunning and the new livery reflects the way Sahara Force India is evolving,” he said. “I’ve always believed our cars have been the most eye-catching, but adding black as a main colour gives us a fierce new look.
“The new rules have presented us with a huge challenge, but I’m very proud of the approach we have taken and the direction of the technical team. It will be fascinating to see how different teams have interpreted the rules and at this stage it’s impossible to predict who has done the best job.”
Force India will officially present the VJM07 at next week’s first pre-season test in Jerez, Spain, where it will be put through its paces by the team's all-new driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez.