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Force India unveil 2018 car, the VJM11, but no word on team's new name

Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez reveal the VJM11

Force India have unveiled their new car, the VJM 11, which they hope will help them defy the odds once again in 2018.

The car was revealed in Barcelona ahead of the first winter test getting underway at the Circuit de Catalunya.

While there remains no word on what the team's new name may be, both the car and drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon's overalls were distinctly lacking in team name branding.

"I think they've gone with their own school. That nose with the innovative holes either side of the nose which only Force India had is still there," said Sky F1's Ted Kravitz.

"The sidepods look decent, not quite as tight as some of the leading teams. The rest of the bodywork looks pretty sensible. Nothing earth shattering from the car from what I can see but you never know what's underneath and how the car will change before Melbourne."

The Silverstone outfit have finished fourth and 'best of the rest' in the previous two seasons, and are frequently heralded as F1's best pound-for-pound team due to their consistent results on a slender budget.

Force India: Four fast facts

  • Force India secured their best ever points tally last season with 187 - but it was their first year without a podium since 2013
  • Force India finished all bit four races with both cars in the top 10 in 2017, a record only Mercedes bettered
  • Sergio Perez will this year replace Adrian Sutil as the driver who has started the most races for Force India
  • The team have only once gone backwards in the Constructors’ Championship (2011 to 2012)

They will be aiming to hold off their rivals and challenge the leading lights again this year, and are once again armed with a talented, and often feisty, driver pairing in Perez and Ocon.

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However, Force India are also anticipating a tougher test than ever, with McLaren, Renault and Williams all expecting major improvements with bigger budgets.

2018 car unveilings and launch dates

Team Date Car/Location
Haas February 14 VF-18
Williams February 15 FW41
Red Bull February 19 RB14
Sauber February 20 C37
Renault February 20 RS18
Mercedes February 22 W09
Ferrari February 22 SF-71H
McLaren February 23 MCL33
Toro Rosso February 26 STR13
Force India February 26 VJM11

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