Force India to use improved diffuser

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Encouraged by their double finish in Bahrain, Force India are to introduce an improved version of the interim diffuser.

Team chairman Vijay Mallya also said that some further aero upgrades will also be introduced in the Spanish Grand Prix next month.

After the much-debated diffuser used by Brawn, Williams and Toyota got the clearance from FIA, Force India too jumped on the bandwagon and got a prototype double diffuser onto the VJM02 cars for Bahrain Grand Prix.

The updates did make a difference as Giancarlo Fisichella finished 15th, followed by teammate Adrian Sutil after both had risen to top 10 at some stages.

"We have another update coming in Barcelona, more particularly an improved version of this interim diffuser, and some further aero upgrades," Mallya said.

He said with other teams constantly trying to raise the bar, upgrading was necessary.

"I'm not naive enough to believe that other teams aren't improving. I'm sure everybody is going hammer and tongs trying to find better performance. But we're there and we're racing, and it's so competitive.

"In the midfield everything is separated by hundredths now, and to be in the hunt is quite an impressive achievement," Mallya said.

The flamboyant liquor baron said Force India showed alacrity by introducing the diffuser in Bahrain and is committed to excel within its limitations.

"We've shown we can react quickly. I think we can walk down the paddock with our heads held high, without being apologetic for anything.

"We're a small team, we have limited resources and within what we have I think we have a highly motivated bunch of guys who are now committed, professional and all charged up. I think we're showing to the world that we can race, and race on a limited budget," Mallya said.

Sutil came tantalisingly close to winning Force India's maiden Formula One point in the rain-marred race in Shanghai but Mallya said it was great to see the car becoming competitive in the dry Bahrain race as well.

"I've never been someone who subscribes to the theory that something unusual must happen for us to be competitive," Mallya said.

"Late last year we made a lot of changes to the team in the structure and the management. That entire effort was not to be the minnows at the back, hoping for something unusual to happen.

"It was to really be racing competitively, albeit in midfield. I've always said that this year's goal would be racing midfield, and hopefully scoring points. I think we're doing just that," Mallya said.