JUNE 5, 2009

Force India jumps from FOTA ship

Force India has confirmed that it has made an unconditional entry for next year's World Championship, thus joining Williams in breaking away from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA).

Adrian Sutil, Bahrain GP 2009
© The Cahier Archive

Force India has confirmed that it has made an unconditional entry for next year's World Championship, thus joining Williams in breaking away from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA).

"While the Force India team is broadly in agreement with the FOTA objectives, commercial obligations have demanded that Force India review its conditional entry jointly submitted by FOTA on deadline day," the team said. "This has been done today with full transparency between all parties. The details of the team's position will be discussed between Dr. Vijay Mallya and FOTA vice-chairman John Howett tomorrow. No further comment will be made until those discussions have taken place."

It is likely that Force India will be suspended from FOTA, as Williams have been.

There is some disappointment in FOTA circles as the team has benefitted from a cheap engine deal this year, thanks to agreements between the FOTA members.

The team says that it remains "totally supportive and committed to FOTA".