Mallya hopes to make a mark in Hungarian GP

Force India is still struggling to find its feet in the F1 circuit, which takes a mid-season break after the Hungarian GP, but owner Vijay Mallya insists the team will make a mark.

Force India is still struggling to find its feet in the Formula One circuit, which takes a mid-season break after the Hungarian Grand Prix, but owner Vijay Mallya insists that despite a mostly frustrating first half of the debut season, VJM01 was well on course to making a mark in the second half.

HT Image

Following a competitive double finish at last week's German Grand Prix and a productive three-day test last week in Jerez, Spain, the team now turns its attention to the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Held at the Hungaroring on the outskirts of the Hungarian capital Budapest from August 1 to 3, the event will be the final one of the first part of the season before a three-week break.

Mallya said he was keen on a good result before the break as it would be a confidence-booster for the second part of the season.

"...We need to keep the momentum going we developed in Germany with the two car finish. We will also be running the seamless shift gearbox in Friday practice, so I think we have to use this as an opportunity to see how it performs in pressurised conditions, then go back to Silverstone, look at the findings and improve for the second part.

"We need to be reliable and consistent, and continue to progress as we have done with the aerodynamic improvements," he said.

Reviewing the first half of the season, Mallya said it has been largely frustrating and disappointing but he is not complaining.