Force India renamed but lose all team points after administration
Force India, the Vijay Mallyafounded team that slid into administration last month and had to be bailed out by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, last night lost all their constructors’ championship points as punishment by the sport’s governing body.
But in a last-ditch reprieve by the FIA ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, they have still been allowed to compete in the rest of this year’s Formula One season under a change of name.
In the wake of the purchase by Stroll’s consortium, it was finally announced that the team would be rebranded as Racing Point Force India, and that their two drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, could keep their points in the drivers’ title race.
The loss of constructors’ points, though, relegates them behind Mclaren, Toro Rosso, Sauber and Williams
– a significant penalty, given that each place in the standings is separated by £10million in prize money.
Jean Todt, president of the FIA, said: “I welcome the mid-season entry of Racing Point Force India. Creating an environment of financial stability in Formula One is one of the key challenges faced by the sport.”
The move brings to an end a tumultuous period for the team, safeguarding more than 400 jobs at their Silverstone base. But the changes run deep, with Otmar Szafnauer taking over as team principal following the departure of the long-serving Bob Fernley.
More divisively, it is expected that Stroll will use his acquisition to put his son, Lance, the 19-year-old Williams driver, behind the wheel at the expense of Perez or Ocon.
Stroll, less than impressive this year in winning just four points, refused to commit yesterday. “For the moment, I am here at Williams,” he said. “I’m not sure what I will be doing in the future.”
Elsewhere, Daniel Ricciardo confirmed that his decision to leave Red Bull for an £18million-a-year deal at Renault had been a difficult one. Describing his conversation with Dr Helmut Marko, long the Red Bull kingmaker, the Australian said: “I wasn’t laughing, trust me. I don’t like letting anyone down.”