Jan.25 (GMM) Force India's 2010 car is expected to run for the first time in mid February.

It emerged recently that the Silverstone based team's Mercedes powered VJM03 would not be ready for next week's opening Valencia test.

The second group test is a four-day schedule running from February 10-13 at Jerez.

Word from inside Force India is that the car should be ready to test on February 12.

German driver Adrian Sutil told Auto Bild that he is confident about the 2010 season.

"Our team is currently one of the few without any problems," said the 27-year-old. "There have been takeovers at Renault and Sauber, which is to our benefit."

This season is Sutil's fourth with the same team, which was called Spyker in 2007. Rumours indicated that a switch to McLaren might have been on the cards for 2010.

"In the end there was no alternative," Sutil said. "But I am sure that in 2010 we will begin where we left off in 2009."

Chief race engineer Dominic Harlow agrees that Force India should this year be able to build on its often impressive 2009 form.

"And unlike some other teams, we're not scratching around trying to put together a car at the last minute," he said.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version