B-spec Force India delayed to Austria
ByAutoSport
Published 07/04/2015 at 12:40 GMT
Force India has pushed back the introduction of its B-spec Formula 1 car until the Austrian Grand Prix in late June, according to deputy team principal Bob Fernley.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
The manufacturing of the 2015 chassis was delayed because of an issue with suppliers and a decision to switch windtunnels to Toyota's facility in Cologne.
Fernley admitted in Australia that the early ambition was just to pick up points where possible under a major upgrade arrived.
It had been hoped that the updated car would run at the Monaco GP in May, round six of the world championship, but Fernley said the plan has changed.
"The development is going well, but we won't see that until probably Austria," he told AUTOSPORT.
"It's a major B-spec car as we're looking to introduce a significant upgrade.
"We felt we might as well try and hold with what we can and then hopefully we can bolt on an improvement.
"I'm not saying it will take us ahead but hopefully it will put us back into the pack which is where we need to be."
Fernley said development in the windtunnel is expected to continue until April.
He believes introducing the car in Austria makes more sense than to do so at the preceding European round in Monaco a month earlier.
"Austria is a good place to do it because we've got a test after that so it is an opportunity to hone the car," he said.
"There is more logic in that than trying to rush it and get it to Monaco where it won't be a huge benefit.
"Montreal follows so it makes sense to suffer pain a bit more and hopefully succeed with the programme."
When asked about the reason for pushing the date of introduction back, Fernley said: "We've just been getting the windtunnels operating.
"People don't realise what a big programme it is to move it to Cologne."
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