Year in Review 2016: Force India's efficient management helped them finish season on a high

In one of our earlier episodes of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, we had proudly stated that if there were a World Championship awarded for ‘the most points scored per pound spent’, the Force India Formula 1 Team would take top honours. The Silverstone-based, Indian-owned team has done exceedingly well to break the typical Indian attitude ‘itne paise mein itna hi milega’ (loosely translated to ‘in this much money, this is all you can get’).

After finishing a career-best 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship, not many would have expected Force India to do better in 2016 to finish a position higher in 4th place. The doubt wouldn’t be because of the team’s engineering talent, but more due to the lack of resources at their disposal year-on-year. In fact, one of the owners is out on bail in India while the other has moved base to the UK to avoid arrest due to alleged financial irregularities. Despite their never-ending shareholder issues, the team ‘punched well above their weight’ (a phrase that is almost exclusively reserved for them in the Formula 1 paddock) to finish 2016 ahead of former World Champion teams, Mclaren and Williams.

Force India’s success is largely due to the efficient manner in which the team has been managed. Their mantra to start the season with a solid base car and then build on it through the season has worked wonders for them in the past and did so in 2016 too. In fact, it would be fair to also state that in 2016, their competitors bundled up their ‘formula’ while Force India nailed it with their mid-season upgrades to score in 18 out of the 21 races on the calendar.

After scoring at only two out of the first four races, the team’s fortunes soared after introducing critical updates to their car (new front wing, floor, sidepods, etc) at the Spanish Grand Prix in May. Post-Spain, the team’s consistent performance saw them score at all races (with at least one car) except for the Austrian Grand Prix. In fact, 2016 also saw the team score two podium finishes in one season for the first time in their career when Sergio Perez finished third in Monaco and Baku.

Due to Formula 1’s complex payout clauses towards teams, Force India doesn’t benefit from a ‘historic payment’ like its nearest competitors Williams and Mclaren do. In fact, despite having beaten the two in 2016, there’s a possibility that Force India might receive lesser money (if not equal) — to the tune of 15-12 million pounds. This is also why Force India’s performance stands out more. They’ve just delivered better bang for their buck.

The team aims to finish 3rd in 2017. But would that be possible? Maybe. Let’s remember, Force India’s decision to stick with Mercedes engines has paid them dividends and will continue to do so next season as well. Secondly, with the new aero regulations coming to force, there’s a chance for Force India to get innovative with their solutions or even more so for a top team to go wrong with theirs. As Red Bull Racing and Ferrari chase Mercedes, they are bound to take more risks to gain more rewards, but only if they falter do we see Force India benefitting.

At the same time, we do expect Williams and Mclaren to make gains next season and maybe Sauber and Toro Rosso too. If that does happen the mid-field will bunch up and Force India will have to dig deep to remain ahead. The one area that they have often found themselves lacking is race (tyre) strategy and the team will be hoping to build on that in the off-season.

Finally, if Force India gets their package wrong at the start of the season, it will be difficult for them to salvage their season given the limited budgets and resources. But it seems that this is the very challenge that Force India thrives on and we don’t see why they won’t be able to #FeelTheForce in 2017 too.

Listen to Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg, who drove for Force India in 2016, speak to the Inside Line F1 Podcast here