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20 vehicles – 20 international race meetings: this weekend, the waiting will be over as the pinnacle of motor racing starts its new season!
With the extensive testing being over, the team must now focus on lights out in Melbourne, Australia, on the 25th March. The Australian GP circuit, where the lap record (1:24.125 minutes) is still held by Michael Schumacher, traditionally stages the season opener, and consequently, the first serious clash of teams and drivers.
It goes without saying that the Sahara Force India F1 Team also hopes to deliver in the best possible style – supported by all its partners. During the tests at Barcelona, the team’s new single-seater, the VJM11 proved to be technically reliable and so the drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, are looking forward to the first GP weekend of the season.
The pink livery of the team’s name sponsor is striking indeed and the presentation of RAVENOL on the bargeboards of the car can’t be ignored. Historically, the lubricant partners in Formula One always enjoyed a special presentation that also underlined the special significance of the partner in the team’s overall structure. And now RAVENOL, as ‘Official Lubricants Partner’ of the Sahara Force India F1 Team, joins this long tradition of lubricant partners in Formula One. After all, one thing may still be taken for granted: lubricants are among the most important components used in the aggregates of any F1 car. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the 2018 starting grid once again features half a dozen of brands representing the lubricant industry.
Force India is regarded as the most efficient team in Formula One. In 2017, the team with the smallest budget finished fourth in the constructors’ championship for the second consecutive time, right behind the top teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. On the track, Force India occasionally benefited from the co-operation with their engine supplier, Mercedes. The new VJM11 is equipped with the Mercedes engine M09 EQ Power+ (just like the Mercedes and Williams Teams), the Mercedes AMG F1-8Speed gearbox, and when it comes to the ERS, with the Mercedes AMG HPP system. The goal of the team is to once again make perfect use of its resources and technology and this year they are aiming for a top three finish. Please find further specs of all the F1 cars in extracts in the Sportmagazin Kicker_Sonderheft 2018 (see attachment).
Good news for all German F1 enthusiasts: from 20th to 22nd July 2018, Formula One will be back at the Hockenheimring, so fans can witness the live F1 race action at RAVENOL’s partner circuit. Apart from that, all the races will be covered in Germany – as usual – by the TV station RTL. Furthermore, a fee-based F1 live stream will be offered from this year that will stream live not only the F1 race action but all the practice sessions and the entire support programme too.