The stability in the technical regulations means the VJM09 is more evolution than revolution, building on the strengths of the 2015 b-spec chassis that helped the team secure fifth place in the championship last year.
“You can say the b-spec car from last year formed a basis on which to build our 2016 one,” explains Technical Director, Andrew Green. “We were in a situation in which the performance on track was very good, and in which the data we were getting correlated well to what we were expecting, so we knew we could continue to develop on a solid platform. With the regulations likely to change for 2017, it didn’t really seem like an efficient use of our resources to start from scratch on a project that would have such a limited lifetime.”
It is hard at first inspection to see much difference at all between the VJM09 and the VJM08B but there are quite a number of them, but it is true that the ’09 is a mild refinement of the ’08B.
The VJM09 features a twin wastegate exit. Not the base of the winglet which sits directly behind the exhaust exits.
Looking at the rear corner of the VJM09 (above) there is almost no difference at all to the VJM08B (below), but developments in this area are expected.
In general much of the chassis of the VJM09 carries over, one suspects that had the rules on the cockpit sides not changed for 2016 then Force India would have carried over the tubs from 2015.
The similarities in terms of the chassis are clear to see on the roll hoop which is near identical year on year VJM09 (above) VJM08B (below)
Force India introduced a clever new nose part way through the 2015 season. Inside the openings are a pair of spoon-shaped underbody panels that brings the air slightly more inboard and improves the channelling of air under the chassis. These panels are crucial to the legality of the vents. Beginning as an attempt to reduce the length of the nose and increase aerodynamic performance Force India discovered that the basic architecture of the chassis, around the front suspension, prevented any potential for a very short nose.
The concept has carried over to the 2016 car in its entirety and at least one other team is evaluating adopting a similar design. Compare the 2016 nose (above) with the 2015 (below)
As vented noses are not permissible in the Formula One Technical Regulations if they are deemed to be “see through”; however while the vents captured the attention of many observers in the paddock, Green confirmed that there was never any question as to their legality. “The legality was never in question – we didn’t have to change the design from its initial launch. In order to be within the regulations, you can’t have [see] through hole. If you stood in front of the car and looked at the nose, you can’t see straight through – there has to be a curve, so the vent has to curve round and that’s the reason for the panels underneath.’ Green continues: ‘when you do look at the car from the front and you look into the hole, you cannot see daylight through it. It’s a curved vent and that’s why it’s legal.”
The VJM09 (above) has notably smaller and reshaped sidepod ducts compared to the VJM08 (below). This could suggest that the 2016 Mercedes power unit requires less cooling or that Force India is willing to be a little more aggressive in this area.
A look at the rear end of the 2016 VJM09, the blended driveshaft/lower wishbone is just visible (below)
But predictably when you inspect the late season VJM08B rear end (below) it all looks rather familiar.
The VJM09 uses the Mercedes transmission, this appears to be the same unit used on the VJM08B rather than the new W07 transmission.
A look at the VJM09 bulkhead – predictably very similar to the VJM08B (note the vertical torsion bars)
A look at the steering wheel of the VJM09, which has a 3D printed centre panel mounted in a carbon fibre shell.
Another look at the Mercedes transmission used on the Force India which has a composite outer case and a metal inner section which can just be seen in a couple of points in his image. Note also the caliper position on the rear brake.
Compare the 2016 Mercedes transmission (below) with that used on the 2016 Force India (above). It is clearly a different design with a different casing shape which seems to carry back to the 2014 VJM07 and Mercedes W05
The Mercedes V6 installation is very similar in overall design terms to that used on the VJM08B.
Note the gold heat shielding on the rear face of the monocoque as well as the ducting for the compressor and plenum. In the lower image the whole rear end layout can be seen, chassis, engine, transmission. Though only the upper portions of each are visible.
Most teams ship their cars around using ‘travel’ spec wheels, sometimes they are simply old designs and at times (though not at present) they were very narrow to allow the cars to fit into smaller spaces (something which may return in 2017).
The point of this note is simply that Force India has an unusual design of travel wheel on its cars in 2016 (above) its i clear they have had them for some time, probably also in 2015. They bear the brand of the Motegi wheel manufacturer and feature three spokes each with a hole in. Note the vented front axle.
