While yet point-less in this year's campaign – the only team in the F1 not to have scored a single point from this year's roster – Force India will definitely get up on the scoreboard in the remaining rounds of the season, believes Mallya. Under the circumstances, becoming a consistent point-finisher in 2010 and racing for podiums a year later is perfectly do-able for the Silverstone based team.
“The bottom line is that we're there, and all that I had programmed for the team in terms of gradual improvement in 2009 is happening. Given our relatively small size, this is a great achievement and we'll keep going flat out up to the mandatory August break. I hope that we will score some points during the remainder of this season,” said Mallya in a preview for the Nurburgring race.
“Otherwise I'm more than just optimistic - in fact I'm pretty confident - that from 2010 onwards we will be in the points on a regular basis. And that leads me to believe that my often stated objective of being on the podium in 2011 isn't a pipe dream anymore. To be beating cars like the McLarens, the BMWs, and the Renaults says a lot for a small team like Force India,” added the Indian billionaire.
Although they've been optimistic since the very beginning of the 2009 season – following their brand new engine deal with Mercedes – Force India's best results this season only include a couple of 9th places through both Adrian Sutil (Australia) and Giancarlo Fisichella (Monaco).
During the recent British Grand Prix – considered a home race for Force India due to their Silverstone headquarters – neither of the two VJM02s were able to qualify for Q2, while Fisichella finished the race on an encouraging 10th place, less than 2 seconds behind 8th placed Kimi Raikkonen.
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