planetf1.com

an.18 (GMM) Force India "is in crisis" and it is possible the Silverstone based team "could collapse".

That is the claim of the Italiaracing magazine, who correctly reported some years ago that Pirelli would become the sport's new tyre supplier.
Now, the Italian publication is reporting from sources that Vijay Mallya - Force India's embattled owner who has lost his billionaire status - is experiencing "severe economic difficulties with his companies".

Mallya's troubles with Kingfisher, his grounded Indian airline, are well known, but the 57-year-old also controls United Breweries, and F1 team Force India.

Italiaracing claims that, in recent days, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has "activated a plan to save the (Force India) team."

The sources mentioned the possibility of a return to F1 for Colin Kolles, the team boss who in the wake of the Silverstone based team Jordan's demise some years ago led the subsequent incarnations Spyker and Midland, and finally Force India.

As head of HRT, Kolles left F1 at the end of 2011, a year before the Spanish team's collapse under new management.

Italiaracing also mentioned the former Renault chief and well-known Ecclestone ally Flavio Briatore, who has been out of F1 since the 'crashgate' scandal.

How much money does Diresta bring with him, as currently he's the only driver who has a contract and I wonder how much the buy out clause is to terminate that contract.

I think the article has now been deleted.

Edit: I mean the original source at Italia Racing.

It would be a shame to see them go, but didnt i read on here at the end of last year they got something like $50m injection of cash from somewhere ??
if they cant continue thou as someone has said it would be a good team for someone to buy if they are looking to get into F1..... come on Mr Richards..

How much money does Diresta bring with him, as currently he's the only driver who has a contract and I wonder how much the buy out clause is to terminate that contract.

Is Kobayashi still collecting for a race seat?

Out of interest how much money would a driver need to bring with them to get a seat at FI?

I would imagine that di Resta brings no money with him

He doesn't. His wage is minuscule too. The main reason he was stuck in the FI in the first place was down to Mercedes, not Mallya. If he gets the Ferrari engines and Bernie's chance then I can see Di Resta being dropped like a stone for Senna's cash and Bianchi.

di resta dropping after all the talk about him 100% in a FI 2013 . that would be a story!

A quick Google search with "Joe Saward" and "Vijay Mallya" helps to highlight a lot of the issues Force India have had.

Just seen this

Parc Fermé ‏@PFF1
#F1 Colin Kolles, former team principal of Force India, is behind a plan to take over the team as Vijay Mallya is in financial trouble.

Sounds like they are looking to sell up. Bye bye VJ...

The Deputy team priciple (Can't remember his name) has denied all the rumours and says they haven't talked to anyone.


http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/forc ... 06201.html

They would though.

I wonder if Sky would buy it. They seem to want to get as many arms and legs into F1 as possible, and what better way than owning their own team

Sky Sports F1 Team (HD)

They wouldn't be allowed to. Be a conflict of interest I'd imagine. Sky F1 would turn into the Sky F1 Team Show, only their drivers would get interviewed, wouldn't be allowed to bad mouth the team etc. I'd understand that but I doubt it'll ever be approved. Besides Sky are more likely to sponsor a team than own one, far less risky, easy to get out quick if it goes tits up.

Didn't SKY sponsor McLaren towards the end of the year?

When it comes to Joe and VJ there is some sort of history there and he hyper boles everything up . Like when he said VJ would be arrested for going to the Indian GP

He's not the most unbiased person when it comes to FI. He's also on Caterhams board.

Nope. SKY Brazil sponsor Red Bull at certain races.

I've read that Maldonando brings a personal sponsorship of 20milion to Williams, is this true? If so then Force India might do a rethink on both their drivers and simply pay off Diresta's contract of 0.5 mil

If I remember correctly, I believe the correct figure was $29 million. There was an official Williams document showing the exact amount on here but Don't know where to look.

I'm not too surprised that they are in trouble. There was some financial problems early last year and the only reason they were saved was due to a sponsorship deal worth a fair amount of cash.

It's odd isnt it. We've gone from having 2 Indian drivers clambering for a seat, and a team with Indian markings, to no Indian drivers and if we're not careful, no Indian team. It would make the Indian GP's efforts a bit wasted. Maybe this is why Bernie has stepped in to 'fix' things.

Would be very interesting if Di Resta was dropped. Not that anyone would really care about loosing him though.

I know that but I'm pretty sure someone had the Sky F1 channel logos on the inside of the rear wing end plates.

Yeah they did - on the inside of the rear wing was a Sky F1 HD advert

Fine. Time for Jordan Mugen Honda to return then...

http://imageshack.us/a/img189/7138/jordan1e.jpg

Ok, I know it's not gonna happen but I really miss some of the old teams like Jordan, Benetton or Ligier...