No name change for Force India in 2018

Ten years after its appearance in the paddock, the Force India team stirred up the news during the last summer break with a new development… that never happened. The reason was the name change of the structure before the start of the season. This was a wish expressed by its boss Vijay Mallya, who is still entangled in legal issues with Indian justice, which is demanding his extradition from the United Kingdom for fraud and conspiracy following a loan granted to his airline, Kingfisher.

An announcement was expected before the season. At stake was the desire for a new, more international image to attract new sponsors. However, Rob Fernley revealed in the Melbourne paddock that the shareholders ultimately did not vote for the name change.

They must take the necessary time to decide on a new position, the deputy team principal told journalists present in Australia. This is not something that happens in five minutes: this name change could occur in 5 years as well as in 10 years. The Force India team has a well-defined identity since its creation. It is recognized today in the Formula 1 world for that. Thus, any decision made in the future must be thoroughly considered in advance.

Less than a month ago, the team had indeed been the subject of rumors of a takeover by the energy drink brand Rich Energy. Talks were in progress for a naming with BWT, the European leader in water treatment. As a reminder, this Austrian company has already been a major sponsor of the team since the beginning of the last season. The Indian car then changed color, turning pink.

In any case, the team will be called Force India for another year.