Force India Aims for Regular Points in 2010

The atmosphere at Force India's factory in Silverstone is full of optimistic thoughts for the new season of Formula One, as the very majority owner of the team Vijay Mallya believes the times in which his outfit was happy to squeeze a single point at every 3 or 4 races are now gone. Instead, the Indian billionaire demands regular point finishes in the championship, especially since the new points format will award points to the Top 10 cars at each race (as compared to Top 8, until now).

In a short preview for the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, Mallya made it very clear that regular points and podium finishes from time to time will be his team's new goal for the 2010 campaign.

“We finished 2009 on a real high note - our first-ever points, a podium and one place up in the constructors' championship. That is enough in itself to set the bar much higher this season, but we're really determined to take it to the next level,” said Mallya.

“Regular points and the odd podium have got to be the aim and we know it is possible. I have a lot of faith in the drivers and the technical staff, I think we've got into a very good rhythm together now,” added the Indian team owner.

The team's leading driver Adrian Sutil echoed his boss's comments prior to the Bahrain race, insisting that a Top 10 finish should be right down his alley next Sunday.

“Hopefully in the top ten and I think that should be possible,” said Sutil. “I would hope we could score a few points. For everything else, it is very difficult to say what else will happen, but I am fine with any position within the top 10 - that's my goal for the moment.”

“Points are our target for the time being and getting into the top ten, as high as possible. Being realistic, a few points should be feasible and hopefully everything goes as well as in testing with good reliability for the first race,” added Vitantonio Liuzzi, who's set to begin his first full-time F1 season since 2007.