Force India

From Midland to Spyker to Force India, it has been a blur since former team owner Eddie Jordan realised the game was up at the end of 2004. Regular changes of management were never likely to foster progress, and Super Aguri’s withdrawal at the start of 2008 left this team mired at the back for its first season under Force India ownership.

New boss Vijay Mallya has Jordan’s sense of putting the fun back into Formula 1, but also has plenty of dollars to back it up. His plan to make F1 popular in India probably represents the team’s last hope of being anything other than an also-ran.

His engine deal with Mercedes-Benz has certainly helped, with the team causing a stir by finishing second in the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, but there still remain questions about Force India’s technical strength-in-depth and its ability to maintain a season-long charge.

Stats to start of 2010 
Chassis: Force India VJM03
Engine: Mercedes-Benz
Race Wins: 0
First GP: 2008
Drivers’ championships: 0
Constructors’ championships: 0
World Championship Points: 13