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Tech Notes: Decoding secrets of the midfield pack

We've seen a launch frenzy over the past couple of days as teams unveiled their cars prior to the first test of the season at Jerez. Craig Scarborough takes you through the key points to look for on the new Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso and Lotus

Force India

A chilly Silverstone hosted the launch and shakedown of Force India's new car, the VJM05.

Although employing the McLaren-Mercedes powertrain once again, the chassis marks a complete departure for the team: clearly lacking any similarity to its forebears, the design emanates from a new philosophy in front-wing layout. From this, the nose, turning vane and sidepod thinking have followed suit.

Although new to Force India, the wing aligns with common thinking in F1 front-wing design: it's a three-element unit, with diverging endplates to send flow around the front tyres. This hangs below a typical 2012 flat-topped nose, Force India taking a high-chassis and high-nose route, with slight V-shape to the front bulkhead.

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