Force India VJM10

Force India VJM10
	Esteban Ocon driving the VJM10 at the Malaysian Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Force India
Designer(s)	Andrew Green (Technical Director); Ian Hall (Chief Designer); Bruce Eddington (Chief Engineer, Composites); Dan Carpenter (Chief Engineer, Mechanical Design); Andrew Brown (Head of R&D); Jonathan Marshall (Head of Vehicle Science); Simon Phillips (Head of Aerodynamics); Guru Johl (Chief Aerodynamicist);
Predecessor	Force India VJM09
Successor	Force India VJM11
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque with Zylon side anti-intrusion panels
Suspension (front)	Aluminium alloy uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod inboard chassis mounted torsion springs and anti-roll bar assembly
Suspension (rear)	Aluminium alloy uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pullrod hydro-mechanical springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly
Engine	Mercedes-AMG F1 M08 EQ Power+, 1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine, limited to 15,000 rpm in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motor	Kinetic and thermal energy recovery systems
Transmission	Mercedes semi-automatic sequential gearbox with eight forward and one reverse gear
Fuel	Petronas Primax
Lubricants	Petronas Syntium & Tutela
Brakes	AP Racing - 920E (Brakes System); Carbon Industries Carbon brake discs, pads and calipers;
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero (dry) tyres; Pirelli Cinturato (wet) tyres;
Competition history
Notable entrants	Sahara Force India F1 Team
Notable drivers	11. Sergio Pérez; 31. Esteban Ocon;
Debut	2017 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Force India VJM10 is a Formula One racing car designed and constructed by Force India to compete during the 2017 Formula One season. The car was driven by Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon,^[3] who joined the team after Nico Hülkenberg left the team at the end of the 2016 season. It made its competitive début at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix.

Competition history

Initially, during pre-season testing the team struggled due to an overweight car and was mired in a very tight midfield battle which included Toro Rosso, Haas, Renault and the Williams team.

The first 5 races saw both drivers record double points finishes, the only team to do so in 2017. This included a hugely impressive 22 points haul at the Spanish GP where Pérez and Ocon finished 4th and 5th respectively. However, the next race at Monaco GP brought the team's points streak to an abrupt end after Pérez had contact with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Ocon picked up a puncture, though Pérez managed to set the fastest lap of the race to salvage something from the poor weekend. At the next race in Canada, they managed to return to their trend of double points finish.

However, at Azerbaijan, both drivers collided with each other whilst fighting for a possible win. This caused Pérez to damage his front left suspension and lose his front wing and eventually retire from the race for the first time in 37 races due to the damage sustained, while Ocon survived with a puncture to recover to 6th after a red flag.

Ocon scored points at the next 10 races, with his retirement at the Brazilian Grand Prix halting his 12 consecutive points scoring streak. After his only retirement of the season in Azerbaijan, Pérez finished in the points for every race, barring the Belgian Grand Prix. Although Force India finished 4th in the constructors' standings for the second year in a row, they did score more points then in 2016, with 187, making the 2017 season points tally the highest in the team's history.

Livery

The VJM10 was originally painted in greyish silver livery during the pre-season testing. When the car was launched, it was drastically changed into pink courtesy from the water treatment company BWT. The team also had a support from Johnnie Walker on the rear wing, however alcohol laws meant Force India could not use the logo in Abu Dhabi, instead by just removing it.

The team supported the breast cancer awareness at the United States Grand Prix because the car itself was already pink.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	Grands Prix																				Points	WCC
Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	AUS	CHN	BHR	RUS	ESP	MON	CAN	AZE	AUT	GBR	HUN	BEL	ITA	SIN	MAL	JPN	USA	MEX	BRA	ABU	Points	WCC
2017	Force India	Mercedes M08 EQ Power+	P
				Esteban Ocon	10	10	10	7	5	12	6	6	8	8	9	9	6	10	10	6	6	5	Ret	8	187	4th
				Sergio Pérez	7	9	7	6	4	13	5	Ret	7	9	8	17†	9	5	6	7	8	7	9	7	187	4th