Tech F1i: A closer look at the Force India VJM10

Force-India-2017_VJM10_5

MIXING TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Fitted with a roll-hoop air inlet that divides into three ducts, the Force India also sports a shark fin engine cover, a design that appears fashionable again since Sauber and Renault have also gone for it on their 2017-spec chargers.

The Force India fin is slightly different from the other two, which are carved out at the rear when it is full on the VJM10. All three cars feature rear wing endplates with open-end slits, a solution first devised by Toro Rosso last year.

Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon’s new charger also breaks away from its rivals in the sidepod area where the associated vane does not go all the way down to the floor. Instead, the vane stops halfway through and connects directly to the sidepod. One can also notice that the VJM10’s sidepod inlet is more rectangular than on the Williams, Sauber, and Renault.

Force India has stuck to its front wing design, as well as to the blown front wheel hub concept, though both layouts could change for F1 teams rarely unveil the definite versions of these key elements when launching their cars.

It will interesting to track whether the team goes for a flat main board on its front wing, or decided instead to keep the arched outer sections.

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