Force India VJM02
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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| Constructor | Force India | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) |
Mark Smith (Design Director) James Key (Technical Director) Ian Hall (Project Leader) Simon Phillips (Head of Aerodynamics) |
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| Predecessor | Force India VJM01 | ||||||||||
| Successor | Force India VJM03 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre composite monocoque with Zylon legality side anti-intrusion panels. | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Aluminium MMC uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard chassis mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly. | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Aluminium MMC uprights with carbon fibre composite wishbones, trackrod and pushrod. Inboard gearbox mounted torsion springs, dampers and anti-roll bar assembly. | ||||||||||
| Wheelbase | 3200mm | ||||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz FO 108W 2.4L V8, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | McLaren, 7 forward gears + 1 reverse, semi-automatic | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Mobil High Performance Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel) | ||||||||||
| Lubricants | Mobil 1 – for higher performance, lower friction and better wear resistance | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Bridgestone with Forged wheels to Force India specification | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Force India F1 Team | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 20.  Adrian Sutil21.  Giancarlo Fisichella21. Vitantonio Liuzzi
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| Debut | 2009 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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The Force India VJM02 was Force India's Formula One car for the 2009 Formula One season. It was revealed in a low-key press event, after the car's first test at the Silverstone Circuit, on February 28, 2009, before a public test at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain the following day. The Northamptonshire-based team's car is decorated in the colours of the Indian flag, and was driven by the same drivers as in 2008 – Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil.
Two men instrumental in the early design of the VJM02, chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne and team principal Colin Kolles, were released from their contracts in late 2008, after a conflict with team owner Vijay Mallya. The team decided late in development to change from a Ferrari to a Mercedes engine, along with McLaren gearboxes and hydraulics. Adapting to these new components required a minor redesign of several parts of the car, including the suspension, side-pods and the rear aerodynamics. In making such a late switch, the team chose to forfeit testing time in favour of development time, but were confident that the change gave them a better car than would otherwise have been the case.
At the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix, a revised floor and diffuser for the VJM02 were introduced, as well as an upgraded front wing and reprofiled sidepods. Driver Giancarlo Fisichella welcomed the upgrades, claiming the car's current lack of downforce will be addressed by the new modifications. The team brought further updates at the 2009 European Grand Prix, which worked very well, giving the team their first podium finish at Spa, a day after Fisichella scored an unexpected pole position.
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