Team story
Origins
The Force India name arrived in 2008 on the Silverstone operation newly bought by Vijay Mallya, after its Jordan, Midland and Spyker phases. Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella drove the VJM01. The owner and team's Indian identity therefore rested on an existing British organisation, not a factory created from scratch.
The Formula 1 journey
The technical collaboration with McLaren and Mercedes engines, beginning in 2009, preceded Fisichella's pole and second place at Spa. It was the first podium and remained the best result. Sergio Pérez secured the other five podiums, starting in Bahrain in 2014.
With Nico Hülkenberg and then Esteban Ocon, the team reached fourth in the constructors' standings in 2016 and 2017.
Historical timeline
Three chapters in the story of Force India
Three episodes to revisit the people, cars and races that shaped this journey.
First appearance · Australian Grand Prix
Adrian Sutil · Australian Grand Prix 2008. The recorded outcome is DNF. This is the first recorded race start, or the first entry if the team never started a race.
Sporting landmark · Belgian Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella · Belgian Grand Prix 2009. The recorded position is P2; this number alone does not show whether the driver completed the race distance. This marks the first win or podium where one exists, otherwise the highest recorded placing for this constructor.
Latest recorded appearance · Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Esteban Ocon · Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018. The recorded outcome is DNF. This is the last race start attributed to this constructor in the archive, not necessarily the end of the organisation behind it.
A distinctive way of racing
Force India built its competitiveness through technical continuity spanning the VJM01–VJM11, with updates such as the VJM08B. It never won a Grand Prix but became a frequent points scorer. The Spa pole and Pérez's podiums show two different phases: the first breakthrough before growth made its performance less occasional.
What remains
In 2018 administration led to the sale of the assets to the group headed by Lawrence Stroll. From Spa, Racing Point Force India was admitted as a new entity with its constructors' points reset; Pérez and Ocon retained their personal totals. Continuity of staff and cars does not remove this sporting break.
The chassis record extends to the end of 2018 but does not describe a legally unchanged entry.
