Force India takes on the 2011 F1 championship with the new VJM04

With an expanded grid over the past few years in Formula One in a three-point competition has grown. On the front you have the title contenders such as Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes GP. On the back you have the newcomers Lotus, Hispania and Virgin. In between are the rest that make up the midfield: Renault, Williams, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Force India. But while these divisions are fairly consistent, do changes occur from one season to the next. Mercedes GP - earlier than Brawn and Honda F1 GP formerly known - was a solid midfielder at best for years, but was won in 2009 and still run at the front. Ditto Red Bull Racing, which has seen a remarkable transformation since the Stewart / Jaguar days. And then you have to Force India.
The team took over from perennial back-marker outfit Jordan in 2007, and in his first season under new management, tenth in the constructors' championship - just ahead of Super Aguri, which easily back through the season. But the following season, ninth (before Toro Rosso) and last year, after running sixth most of the season, came in the seventh, hitting, Toro Rosso, Sauber and the three newcomers. That's some impressive progress, but this year Force India aims for fifth place in the championship, and this is the car which they hope to get there.
The VJM04 (the team's fourth car, so named after team boss Vijay Mallya) is an evolution of last year's design and, while McLaren-Mercedes power for the third season. Adrian Sutil, who has been with the team from the start, only to return, this time as a partner of DTM champion Paul di Resta, the Vitantonio Liuzzi replaced. Nico Hulkenberg takes the test driver role - the team has decided to run for the 2010 cars in the first test session - while several senior staff team went during the off-season to rival teams.
Will Force India to be able upward flight path to achieve their targets, and maybe a podium finish at the Lone Giancarlo Fisichella for the team scored at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix? We have to wait and see, but in the meantime you can watch the pictures in the gallery below and in the press release after the jump.