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Force India: Formula 1 team to come out of administration

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments364

Force India's Esteban Ocon
Force India are currently sixth in the constructors' standings

F1 team Force India have agreed a deal to come out of administration, saving all 405 jobs at their Silverstone base.

The team's management, backed by a consortium of investors led by Lawrence Stroll, have secured the future of the team.

Force India was placed in administration in July.

The team's driver Sergio Perez said he started administration proceedings in order to fend off a winding-up petition from another creditor.

Canadian billionaire Stroll is the father of Williams F1 driver Lance.

Force India chief operations officer Otmar Szafnauer, along with his senior management team, worked with the administrator to find investors able to secure the long-term future of the business.

"This outcome secures the future of the Force India team in Formula 1 and will allow our team of racers to compete to our full potential," said Szafnauer.

"I am delighted that we have the support of a consortium of investors who believe in us as a team and who see the considerable business potential that Force India has within F1 now and in the future."

Three of Formula 1's biggest names - McLaren, Williams and Renault - have been concerned about a potential sale to Stroll.

The teams are worried that Force India, which uses Mercedes engines, could effectively became a Mercedes 'B' team.

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364 comments

  • Comment posted by stellatorty, at 19:46 7 Aug 2018

    Even IF it turned out to be a Mercedes "B" team, what is the problem? Has nobody translated Toro Rosso into English?

  • Comment posted by Des95, at 19:29 7 Aug 2018

    So I wonder where Lance Stroll will be driving next season

  • Comment posted by kdp273, at 21:37 7 Aug 2018

    What a whingefest on here. F1 has always been an elitist sport, accessible to just a few, and over the last 20 years heavily reliant on sponsorship...which extends to drivers, teams, and races with investors being families, corporates, and Governments...so its a bit rich (excuse the pun) to start giving the Stroll family a hard time, not least because there are 450 staff who have a job tomorrow!

  • Comment posted by Raikkonens Magnum, at 19:29 7 Aug 2018

    Whilst "B" teams such as Haas, Toro Rosso and now perhaps Force India are unfair because they give an advantage to big budget teams, it is always exciting to see young academy drivers progress through their ranks and be given seats in the bigger teams

  • Comment posted by AndyC, at 20:38 7 Aug 2018

    If the f1 prize pot was shared more fairly im not sure this would be a issue.

  • Comment posted by Safer Quicker, at 19:28 7 Aug 2018

    Force Canada here we go!

  • Comment posted by U17051518, at 19:49 7 Aug 2018

    One would assume father Stroll has invested in the team to give his boy something to do next year.

  • Comment posted by bunyrab1t, at 19:44 7 Aug 2018

    10: In practice very little but at least the ownership is different.

    IMHO the real problem is that there is no longer room for "privateer" teams in F1 & if this situation persists then F1 cannot survive in the long term.

  • Comment posted by mrjanyeo, at 19:53 7 Aug 2018

    Toro Rosso are Red Bull B, Haas & Sauber are Basically Ferrari B. What a surprise that 3 of the worst performing teams are the ones worried!

  • Comment posted by U16669997, at 19:28 7 Aug 2018

    That should help them to Stroll along in midfield for a while then.

  • Comment posted by BrundleHonest, at 22:53 7 Aug 2018

    Glad the team has been saved, now the next thing that has to change is giving a rich team like Ferrari 100 million before the season even starts.

    Disgraceful.

  • Comment posted by Wozza, at 23:59 7 Aug 2018

    Ferrari has a B and a C team. Red Bull has a B team. Why the fuss?

  • Comment posted by Tio Terry, at 07:54 8 Aug 2018

    I know his is off topic so if it's a problem please remove it mods.

    I'd just like to wish Niki Lauda well following his operation and to wish him a speedy recovery. I don't know if his lung problem is linked to his terrible accident but wouldn't be surprised if it was.

    Hope to see you back soon Niki.

  • Comment posted by U17055909, at 19:37 7 Aug 2018

    So what would B the difference if they were the B team compared to Red Bull and Torro Rosa and Ferrari and Sauber

  • Comment posted by UK-Minardi-Fan, at 20:56 7 Aug 2018

    Great news that the team and 405 jobs are safe! Even if they have to run Lance in one of the cars - I guess everything in life is a compromise!

  • Comment posted by anythingleftonthebbc, at 20:00 7 Aug 2018

    I had hoped Bernie might have bought them out, with daughter Tamara behind the wheel next season!

  • Comment posted by kd18, at 22:07 7 Aug 2018

    The news is very welcome in our household as my son and his colleagues' jobs are safe and the team can now grow the development of their car.

  • Comment posted by bolzano_weierstrass, at 21:00 7 Aug 2018

    Stroll has actually done some good things even with that dreadful Williams team. He isn't talentless.

  • Comment posted by Numbering, at 21:50 7 Aug 2018

    66. Dougie

    "...in a different way and on a very different financial scale isn't this what Lewis's father did"

    Can't work out if trolling or just uninformed...

  • Comment posted by Berlindancer, at 22:09 7 Aug 2018

    Anyone who genuinely wanted another F1 team to go under must be insane. A championship with just 9 teams competing would have been a disaster for the sport.

    Fair play to Stroll for bailing them out and I'm another one who didn't especially rate his son Lance (who I thought was a spoiled brat rent-a-driver), but now have to admit after a few seasons, he's not quite as bad as previously thought.

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