Force India confirm Mercedes deal

The multi-year deal will see the team's 2009 car - the VJMO2 - powered by Mercedes engines, in an agreement which includes the marque's Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) and will give Force India access to McLaren's network of parts suppliers.

The car will also be fitted with a McLaren gearbox and hydraulic systems.

The team have also confirmed that they will be expanding their computational fluid dynamics capabilities at the Brackley Aero Centre.

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce a technical partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines, and also our plan to expand the composite manufacturing capability and drawing office within our Silverstone facility," said chairman and managing director of Force India Vijay Mallya.

"McLaren and Mercedes-Benz are two of the most famous names in motorsport history having achieved superb success in Grand Prix racing over many years, and most recently, a superb victory in probably the most dramatic world championship Formula One has seen.

"Force India Formula One team has been in existence for only one year, and inevitably our first season has constituted a learning period," said Mallya. "But we said at the outset that we meant business and were not interested in merely making up the numbers.

"The announcement of our new technical partnership, combined with the new developments and resources clearly underlines that we meant what we said. I would personally like to thank Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Max Mosley, both of whom offered their assistance and support throughout the gestation of this deal."

Mallya believes that the deal, which is for five years, will allow the team to raise their game in 2009 after a season in which they finished 10th in the constructors' championship without a point.