Formula One motor racing: Team prospects for 2018
Within the next fortnight Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta will know whether they continue to remain Force India drivers next season or not, as Team Principal Vijay Mallya said he is due to convey his decision to the duo before next month's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The team, who became Force India in 2008 after Indian beer baron Vijay Mallya bought Spyker F1, were taken over in August by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll after going into administration.
Team co-owner Vijay Mallya said in a statement on Tuesday that the deal, which will make the cars stand out at the Australian season-opener next week, is one of the most significant partnerships in Force India's 10-year history.
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Vijay Mallya to overturn charges against him for allegedly violating foreign exchange rules, adding to the legal challenges facing one of the country's most prominent businessmen.
Mexican Sergio Perez and Germany's Nico Hulkenberg are staying at Force India next season, the Formula One team's co-owner Vijay Mallya told Reuters. "I can confirm that both the drivers are signed up for 2017," Mallya said at the British Grand Prix. "They are a fine pair, both absolutely top class. I've never believed in 'pay drivers' where talent or ability is compromised," he added.
Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez described his Force India team's financial situation as 'critical' on Thursday, and recognised that his own future remained uncertain.
Force India did not say who the other driver would be, but that is assumed to be Canadian Lance Stroll whose billionaire father Lawrence heads a consortium that now controls the Silverstone-based outfit.
Mexican Sergio Perez will stay at Force India next year for a fourth straight season, the Silverstone-based Formula One team announced after Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.
Inconsistent double points finish has dented Sahara Force India's standing in the championship table, team principal Vijay Mallya conceded on Tuesday, expressing hope that both his drivers will end in the points bracket at the home Indian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Embattled Force India team boss Vijay Mallya made his Indian Grand Prix entrance in combative mood on Saturday, lashing local media for their coverage of his business troubles and grounded Kingfisher airline.
They said creditors would be paid in full and all 405 jobs at the Silverstone-based team, that was co-owned by embattled Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and finished fourth last year, were safe.
Force India's Nico Hulkenberg was handed a one-place grid penalty for the German Grand Prix following a breach of tyre rules in Saturday's qualifying session.
Safety fears grew ahead of this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain on Thursday after members of the Force India team were caught up in a petrol bomb incident.
A Force India Formula One team employee has been allowed to return home from Bahrain after expressing safety fears ahead of this weekend's controversial Grand Prix.
Paul di Resta matched his career-best qualifying position on Saturday when he claimed the sixth place on the grid for the Singapore Grand Prix even as his Sahara Force India team-mate Nico Hulkenberg missed out on the top-10.
Paul di Resta said the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix would be an interesting one as it is considered as one of the toughest races of the year.
Sahara Force India team principal Vijay Mallya was a satisfied man after his team achieved the target of registering points in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix with Adrian Sutil managing to bring home the car inside the top 10 bracket, in Greater Noida, on Sunday.
Sahara Force India team principal Vijay Mallya, on Thursday, refused to reveal whether he will retain Adrian Sutil for the next season but said he would convey his decision to the German driver whenever he wants.
Hamilton held off a mid-race challenge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen to register a record-equalling fourth triumph at the floodlit Marina Bay Street Circuit track, while Vettel finished third to slip further behind in the title race.
Team mate Sebastian Vettel was second fastest to complete the front-row sweep, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton third for Mercedes.
Italian Giancarlo Fisichella handed his Force India Formula One team an astonishing first pole position at the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday. The 36-year-old took his first pole since Malaysia 2006, when he was at then-frontrunners Renault, to put a team that has yet to score a point in 29 races at the front of the starting grid.
For Mercedes to be denied in Brazil, Ferrari will have to score 13 points more than Mercedes -- a feat they have managed only twice in 19 races so far this year.
'I love Vijay. My heart is really broken because I know this is not ideal in the short term for him, but the big picture is really different'
Some Formula One drivers never experience the pride and passion of racing in a home grand prix, their countries unlikely ever to appear on the calendar, but Mexican Sergio Perez will not be one of them after this weekend.
Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix for Ferrari's first success of the Formula One season on Sunday after championship leader Jenson Button crashed on the opening lap.
Force India drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil were spotted in Malaysia by reader Prabu Francis.
India's hopes of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in 2011 are on track despite exchange control obstacles, according to Force India team owner Vijay Mallya.
Force India should have chosen an Indian driver to replace Giancarlo Fisichella when the Italian switched to Ferrari to help boost the build up for the nation's inaugural grand prix in 2011, Bernie Ecclestone has said.
French Formula One rookie Esteban Ocon needs to change his attitude and understand what racing is about, Force India team mate Sergio Perez said on Thursday as tension between the two showed no sign of easing.
"I just have to ride out the storm," Vijay Mallya said.
Force India team owner Vijay Mallya believes his team can recover from the disastrous showing in 2008 and aim to regularly score points in the upcoming Formula One season.
Troubled business tycoon Vijay Mallya, on Sunday, asserted that his stepping down as chairman of the United Spirits Ltd will not affect his control in Formula One team, Sahara Force India.
Both the Force India drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil clocked up impressive timing in last week's testing on the same circuit in Barcelona which would host this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. Force India's chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne reckons the team is moving in the right direction and he says both the drivers would be upbeat as they go for the Spanish Grand Prix and the subsequent races.
Giancarlo Fisichella has made Germany's Adrian Sutil raise his game since they became Force India team mates this season, according to the Formula One team's principal Colin Kolles. Italian veteran Fisichella, a race winner with former team Renault, was comfortably quicker in the early races of the season but the highly-rated Sutil, 25, has had the better results of late.
India will start construction of a Formula One circuit near New Delhi in October and is on track to host its first Grand Prix in 2010, Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday. Mallya, who bought the Spyker team last year and renamed it, has said he wants Force India to be in a position to claim their first podium finish by 2010 when they can expect to be racing in front of a home crowd.
India will produce a Formula One driver like Lewis Hamilton one day but it will take time, Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday. Asked in a team interview whether he was actively looking for an Indian driver or Indian personnel, the flamboyant billionaire said he simply wanted the best regardless of nationality.
Giancarlo Fisichella finished 17th, while team mate Adrian Sutil qualified 19th for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix. At the top, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won pole position after warding off a strong challenge from BMW's Robert Kubica, who briefly took the lead before the Briton outpaced him in the third and final qualifying session.
The Force India driver posted the fourth best time in testing at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
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