Perez says only some of new-specification VJM08 will be run at post-race test, with full car to debut at British GP; Mexican finally moves onto second engine of 2015 this weekend in Austria
Thursday 18 June 2015 13:31, UK
Sergio Perez says it is “very good news” that Force India are now only one race away from the introduction of their heavily-revised car, a package he believes will open the door to a more competitive second half of the season.
Following a change in wind tunnel and issues paying suppliers over the winter, Force India delayed the definitive version of their 2015 car, the VJM08, until the middle of the campaign and were therefore aware that their early-season form would be compromised as a result.
Perez confirmed ahead of the Austrian GP on Thursday that while the new package – dubbed a B-spec car in some quarters – wouldn’t be run in full at next week’s test at the Red Bull Ring, it would be completely ready for the following race in Britain.
“We are going to have it for Silverstone. We are obviously doing some testing with some of the parts of the new-spec, but the main upgrade will come to Silverstone,” Perez said.
“So it’s definitely very good news as it’s only one race left, so hopefully we can score points this weekend and then aim for a much better second half of the year with the upgraded car.”
Despite having to wait an additional three months for their pukka 2015 challenger, Force India have impressively scored points in four of the seven races to date and are just two points adrift of fifth-placed Lotus in the Constructors’ Championship.
And Perez, who finished sixth on his debut at the former A1 Ring last season, hopes Force India can squeeze some more points out of the original-specification VJM08 one last time this weekend.
“There are showers around and a bit of concern over the weekend in that respect, so it can be a bit of mixed weekend. Last year I was really strong around here and I expect to be good [again],” added the Mexican, who was sixth in 2014 and set the race's fastest lap.
As the only driver to use the same engine for the first seven grands prix of 2015, Perez’s car will finally move onto its second Mercedes unit in Austria. And although the German manufacturer is yet to use any of its remaining seven development tokens, Perez is looking forward to sampling the latest version of the class-leading power unit.
“Here is a good place to have a new engine, an upgraded version. This track is quite important for the engine so hopefully it can give us a good boost and we can be in a better position," he said.
Don’t miss Sky Sports F1’s exclusively live coverage of the 2015 Austrian GP. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway from 11.30am. No Sky Sports? No problem! Watch the Austrian GP for £6.99 with NOW TV
