Spa-Francorchamp, Belgium - Force India mechanics are preparing their cars for the Belgian Grand Prix despite lingering uncertainty about the Formula One team’s eligibility to race after a change of ownership.
The pink and white trucks and hospitality unit at Spa-Francorchamps had no Force India branding on Thursday, with the official team name appearing only over the garage on signs put up by circuit organisers. Mechanics were working as normal, however, and the Silverstone-based outfit issued a media schedule for driver interviews.
Former deputy principal Bob Fernley, who effectively ran the team with chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer, meanwhile confirmed that he had left following a takeover by a consortium led by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. That departure was expected, with Fernley operating as right-hand man to financially and legally troubled former co-owner Vijay Mallya.
Legal complications
Force India went into administration at the end of July with a rescue deal announced on 7 August. Szafnauer, who remains in position, said then that the team’s future was secure with Stroll - father of Williams driver Lance - injecting substantial funding. However, doubts about Force India being able to race at Spa, the first Grand Prix since the August break, emerged on Wednesday with reports of legal complications.
Website racefans.net reported that while Stroll had purchased the team’s physical assets, including the cars, ownership of the entry that confers the right to race had yet to be transferred; any name change would also require the agreement of other teams.
A Force India spokesman was unable to comment on the reports but other sources were optimistic a solution would be found in time to race. A statement from the governing International Automobile Federation was expected on Thursday, with the track action not starting until Friday.
Perez was owed $4 million
Force India’s driver lineup is Mexican Sergio Perez, whose sponsors were still evident on the trucks, and Mercedes-backed Frenchman Esteban Ocon. Mercedes provide the team’s engines.
Perez triggered the administration by taking legal action to secure payment of more than $4 million (R57 million) he said he was owed as part of sponsorship deals brought to the team. Mercedes, which was owed some €13 million (R214 million), and leading sponsor BWT were also involved.
The team is currently sixth in the Constructors’ standings on 59 points after 12 rounds of a 21-race season.