2014 is going to be an exciting year for the Formula One fraternity as a lot of changes are taking place. Not only will things change in terms of regulations, several teams are going to feature new drivers. Some of the most famous teams are going to contest the season with new players. Felipe Massa, the Brazilian ace, is no longer going to be racing for Italian giants Ferrari as he joined Williams. 2014 will be an exciting new season for Sahara Force India as the Silverstone based team will contest with two new drivers. A few days back, this team announced that German driver Nico Hulkenberg has made a return and will be contesting in the 2014 season. Now, making further changes, Force India announced that it will be joining hands with Sergio Perez, who raced for McLaren in 2013 season. Critics feel although the Mexican has not done that well this season, he deserves another chance at the top level.
The appointment of Perez automatically means that drivers Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil, race drivers of Sahara Force India for 2013 season, will be searching for a new team. There is a lot of uncertainty on the future of both these drivers as it is being said that Di Resta is likely to leave Formula One. As far as Adrian Sutil is concerned, the German could possibly go to Sauber. According to sources, there was no particular reason behind the replacing of Paul Di Resta as he has a great relationship with everyone at Force India. The entry of Hulkenberg has automatically left a space Sauber, which could be Sutil's chance to still stay in Formula One. Paul Di Resta, commenting on his departure from Force India, wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. "Just want to take this opportunity to thank Force India for 4 great years. As a team we've come a long way in our time together. But it's now time for a new challenge for me in the next phase of my career and I wish them all the best for the future," he said.
Perez, still young to the sport, is a driver on the rise and according to many, has a bright future ahead of him. The 2012 season was a great one for Perez as he ended up with three podium finishes for his team Sauber. Many experts in the Formula One circuit are of the opinion that the combination of Perez and Hulkenberg could prove to be a great prospect for Sahara Force India. Also, changes in regulations are likely to make things more competitive. A number of teams will feature new drivers, such as Red Bull (Daniel Ricciardo), Ferrari (Kimi Raikkonen), McLaren (Kevin Magnussen) and Williams (Felipe Massa).
Sergio Perez, on his part, was really excited and spoke about how he found the team to be ideal for his future in the sport. Perez also said that he wanted to know everyone and settle into Force India's scheme of things. “It’s great to announce my new team as Sahara Force India. Coming here was always my first choice and I’m really happy everything has now been confirmed. I want to say thank you to Vijay and the whole team for giving me the opportunity. This is a young team with a lot of determination and they’ve produced competitive cars for the last few years. It’s all change for next season with the new regulations, but I already have a good feeling about 2014. My plan now is to visit the factory and get to know everyone in the team,” he said.
On the other hand, Dr. Vijay Mallaya, Team Principal and Managing Director at Force India, is really delighted to collaborate with Sergio Perez. In an official statement, he spoke about future prospects of the young Mexican and the talent that he possesses. “It’s a pleasure to welcome Sergio to the team. He brings a healthy mix of youth and experience, and I’ve been very impressed with his recent performances. He already has several podium finishes to his name and being chosen by McLaren last year was a clear indication that he is a driver to watch for the future. We also recognise Sergio’s incredible talent and we are proud to have him in our team. He clearly has great speed and plenty of fire in his belly. Our job is to make sure he settles in quickly by creating the right atmosphere so that he can realise his potential. By pairing Sergio alongside Nico, we enter the new season with an extremely competitive line-up, which will go toward helping us achieve our goals for the new season,” he was quoted as saying.
