Force India driver Giancarlo Fisichella is hoping that the new rules and regulations being introduced for the coming season and the team’s new technical partnership with McLaren will see opportunities for his team to move up the Formula One grid to some degree.

Speaking ahead of the official car launch this coming weekend, the Italian racer admitted that things should be a little more equal this year as all teams were forced to make their new cars from scratch….

“I think this year is a good opportunity for us as a team," he said in the Indian press. "Everyone has had to redesign their cars, so if you had a good car last year you might not have a good one this year. We're all a lot more equal this year and with a good overall package I think we could be strong once we've had a few races."  

The new VJM02 will be officially unveiled at the Jerez circuit in Spain on Sunday and from there they will begin their first and only test session of the pre season, something that Fisichella feels could be a disadvantage

"It is a disadvantage as it's important to drive as much as you can before the start of the year to get a feeling with the car and try and establish a good set-up. It's not easy in just four days, especially with the new rules coming in this year. We are just going to have to try and get as much as we can from these eight days before the season."