Force India will use Mercedes-Benz engines and McLaren gearboxes from next season following the confirmation of a new technical partnership. It comes after last week’s news that Ferrari had agreed to end their engine supply deal with the team a year early.
Force India’s 2009 car, the VJM02, will run engines supplied by Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, the first time Mercedes has supplied a chassis constructor other than McLaren.
Its V8 will be mated to McLaren Racing gearboxes and hydraulic systems supplied by McLaren Applied Technologies, who will also provide Force India with operational support and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) currently being developed by McLaren and Mercedes. Additionally, Force India will have access to the McLaren Group's network of bespoke suppliers.
Also announced was the appointment of Simon Roberts, formerly McLaren's racing operations director, as Force India's new Chief Operating Officer.
