JANUARY 9, 2014

Force India to have unique chassis hump

Force India will feature Telmex colours in 2014 and an unique 'hump' on the top of the monocoque, the Italian publication Omnicorse reports.

Force India will feature Telmex colours in 2014 and an unique 'hump' on the top of the monocoque, the Italian publication Omnicorse reports.

Swiss rival Sauber announced just before Christmas that, with Mexican Esteban Gutierrez staying on board for 2014, the logos of magnate Carlos Slim's brands Telmex and Telcel will still be worn by the team this year.

Force India, however, has signed McLaren refugee Sergio Perez for 2014, another Mexican driver prominently backed by billionaire Slim.

As well as some details of the 2014 livery, Omnicorse also claims to know that the Silverstone based team's technical boss Andy Green has "a few surprises" for the F1 paddock up his sleeve for when the new VJM07 is unveiled.

The unloved 'step noses' of 2012 mainly disappeared last year, when the FIA allowed teams to install a 'vanity panel' to disguise the unseemly solutions.

But with the bodywork regulations changing yet again in 2014, Omnicorse claims Green's new Force India will have a 'hump' not on the nose, but directly atop the monocoque.

The report speculates that the solution directs more air underneath the car, without compromising the amount of space necessary inside the cockpit.

Vijay Mallya-led Force India finished the 2013 constructors' championship in sixth place.

(GMM)