Force India signs on McLaren, Mercedes

Force India has signed a long term deal with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes Benz HighPerformanceEngines. This follows its split with engine supplier Ferrari.

The deal includes supply of gearboxes, hydraulic systems and Mercedes-built engines from McLaren. McLaren will also lend operational support and provide the team with the new kinetic engine recovery system (KERS).

Vijay Mallya (pictured, centre), chairman and managing director, Force India said, "McLaren and Mercedes-Benz are two of the most famous names in motorsport history, having achieved great success in Grand Prix racing over many years, and most recently, a superb victory in probably the most dramatic World Championship Formula 1 has seen."

He added, "These new resources and developments will provide an enormous boost to our technical armoury and, as a result, we have high hopes of making good progress in 2009 and beyond."

Martin Whitmarsh, CEO, McLaren F1 has specified that his team would not impose drivers on Force India but would make recommendations. Force India did not score a point in 2008 and hopes that things will be better in 2009 as there has also been a management restructuring recently.