Force India acknowledge Felipe Nasr interest

  • Published on 02 Nov 2016 11:45
  • comments 3
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley has revealed that the team are interested in signing Felipe Nasr.

The Sauber driver has denied that he has been in talks with the Silverstone-based team, but they have the Brazilian on their shortlist

"Felipe Nasr is on the list," Fernley said. "Vijay, myself, Andrew Green and Otmar Szafnauer will analyse the names one by one."

"We will all give our opinion about who we think is the best package. They should be fast, experienced and help the group to grow," he explained.

"We are seeking a consensus solution, which doesn't always happen in the first meeting. Personally, I don't think we will decide the other driver straight away."

Globo said Fernley, team boss Vijay Mallya and other key figures in the Force India team will sit down to discuss the 2017 selection this week.

Technical boss Green also acknowledged that they are interested in Nasr, but he also sais they were keeping their eye on "everyone who is out of contract".

"We are fourth in the constructors' championship with one of the smallest budgets in F1," he boasted.

Also linked with a move to Force India is current Renault driver Jolyon Palmer.

"He'd love to continue with Renault, he's put a lot into it this year, he's very bullish and enthusiastic about it," Palmer's father Jonathan told The Sun newspaper.

"But if that doesn't happen, then of course there's no doubt Force India is a great team. So that's certainly something that we are pursuing," he admitted.

Kevin Magnussen, Esteban Gutierrez, and Marcus Ericsson are also thought to be on Force India's shortlist but Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein is understood to not be rated highly by Force India engineers, seemingly ruling him out.

GP2 points leader Antonio Giovinazzi is thought to have an outside chance at a seat, but Force India's Green played down the likelihood of any rookie being signed for 2017.

"I prefer drivers with some experience in F1, especially with the new regulations for 2017," he said.

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • HEINZ

    Posts: 61

    I cant really understand how they could be considering Ocon and not Wehrlein. How come he is good enough to test the Mercedes car but not Force India's?

    • + 0
    • Nov 2 2016 - 14:22
    • I think Wehrlein is a good option. However, I believe he did try one of their cars during a practice last year (if Im not mistaken?), so maybe they found that he wasnt the kind of driver they wanted or something. Or maybe he doesnt come with enough cash.

      • + 0
      • Nov 2 2016 - 19:32
  • Nasr is probably one of the less deserving of a place there, he comes with lots of cash and talk, but I havent seen him do better than Ericsson this year, and Ericsson is pretty average, even if he did a great job both in the U.S and Mexico. KMag, Ocon and Wehrlein are better options.

    • + 0
    • Nov 2 2016 - 19:30

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country BR
  • Date of b. Aug 21 1992 (31)
  • Place of b. Brasilia, BR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar