Formula One news

Force India introduces sharkfin engine cover

Adrian Sutil rounded off Force India's pre-British Grand Prix test at the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on Thursday. Sutil continued the team's programme of testing the complete new aero and mechanical package that will be introduced in next week's race, including the new 'shark fin' engine cover, wheel covers, bargeboards, diffuser and inerter damper .

Adrian covered 71 laps over the day, recording a best lap of 1min 21.331 despite the increasingly windy conditions. A brake disc failure just before the lunchtime break led to an excursion into the gravel trap at turn 11, however the car was back out again for further running in the afternoon.

"I think it was a useful day," said Sutil. "We did some good running and could do a lot of testing with the inerter damper, which was the main target of the day. It will take a little while to feel completely happy with it, but I definitely think there is potential there, we just need to understand how to get the most out of it as all day we had some problems with understeer that we just couldn't seem to get rid of.

"Aero-wise, I think we did a good step, the engine cover seems to work well and also the front wing. We've got more downforce now, so we need to put it all together, both mechanically and aerodynamically, and I think we will have a step forward for Silverstone next week."

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