Force India goes into administration

[Chrill]

Now, I don't understand the British laws well enough to fully comprehend this, but it seems that Sergio Perez is behind a group that has now put Force India into administration over unpaid wages.

https://www.racefans.net/2018/07/27/perez-behind-legal-proceedings-force-india-administration-over-4m-debt/

Not a great way to keep the team afloat, surely. Remains to be seen if he's even driving the car on Saturday.

[Penfold]

His contract still holds so probably not the best idea for Force India to mess with his weekend.  If nothing else, this will at least bring matters to a head fairly swiftly as any interested parties will have to show their hands.

If one was to be highly cynical you might wonder whether Perez was encouraged by a potential purchaser to nudge FI into administration, thus removing the team's management from the negotiating table.  Fascinating to see who buys Force India and who's driving for them next year.

[Penfold]

Turns out Perez was asked by the team to begin administration proceedings, but we know not which person/people made the request: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44994539

[Chrill]

As it seems, people wanted Vijay Mallya out. He started withdrawing funds from the team which sent them into administration. Had he not withdrawn money, they would have survived the season but have been in trouble over the off-season. As they always are.

Seems like whoever buys the team can trust Lawrence Stroll to invest, however he has no interest in owning the team. Major sponsor, sure. So, perhaps we will see Perez-Stroll at Force India as soon as Spa. Which could send Ocon to Renault, where he seems to be heading for 2019 anyway. Anyway, we're getting an extra mini-silly season during this summer break.

[Penfold]

... and out of administration courtesy of Lawrence Stroll and associates: https://www.racefans.net/2018/08/07/stroll-deal-to-bring-force-india-out-of-administration/

Doesn't sound too good for Williams next year: no Stroll cash and no Martini sponsorship.

[Chrill]

Indeed. Williams may only possibly survive if Mercedes backs them, or another driver-sponsor pairing saves them. We now have Sauber-Ericsson and Force Stroll. Is this the future Bernie envisioned? New Concorde agreements could not come sooner.

[Chrill]

https://www.racefans.net/2018/08/23/force-india-seeking-urgent-solution-allow-race-spa/

It seems the Force India owned by daddy Stroll is not the same Force India owned by Vijay Mallya. That means, Stroll India Force has no right to participate in F1, despite having all the cars and staff and equipment. Remains to be seen whether an agreement can be reached. Most likely they can figure something out, it would be really poor PR if bureaucracy would stand in the way despite the team being present.

[Penfold]

... and because of this ownership issue, the new Force India (or Force Stroll as you so aptly christened it) is not automatically entitled to the old Force India's share of F1 payments - that's something like a ?53 million hit to next year's budget.  They can pocket that money but only if all other teams agree to it, and Williams, McLaren, and Renault are not playing ball (yet).

[Chrill]

The latest development in this saga:

Liberty is working on an agreement for Force India to race this weekend. It would render the new Force India a separate entity, a new entry to the F1 series, because this is deemed the easiest way to make other teams agree. That means they will restart with 0 points onboard for this season, and Stroll is likely to replace Ocon come Monza.

Stroll replacing Ocon is likely to cause the following:
Stroll -> Force India
Ocon -> McLaren (no word yet on whether he's replacing the door to Transit or El Fernando)
Kubica -> Williams (filling in for Stroll)

A lot going on.

[Chrill]

Well, step 1 came true. Force India is no more. Racing Point Force India, or RPFI for short (we'll need to spice that up) is a new F1 team entering the series as of Belgium 2018. The old Force India no longer exists, therefore RPFI will start with 0 constructors championship points. Their two drivers, for Belgium, are Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. For Italy, we'll see.

[Penfold]

I still like your Force Stroll moniker, or it could be Project Stroll.  Other options... how about Racing Progeny's Future Initiative; or to mourn the passing of Force India we add an 'I' and go with RIPFI; or if this is the future of our 'sport' then perhaps RIPF1 will do.

So, guess I'd better pick Ocon this week just in case Stroll steals his seat.

[Penfold]

Force Stroll can keep Force India's prize money: https://www.racefans.net/2018/08/24/force-indias-rivals-agree-to-let-team-keep-prize-money/

Rivals compel new entity to include 'Force India' as part of its name in the hope that Mercedes won't then want to get too cosy, i.e. make them a 'B-team', because of said tarnished brand.  Funny stuff.

[Chrill]

Force India isn't a tarnished brand though. They are known as "The ones who got a shitload of stuff done with little budget despite a cuckoo boss". As in, they're real efficient and belong on the grid.

[Penfold]

Their F1 rivals (or some of them) think the Force India name is compromised by association with Mallya, now personally I don't agree with them, but that's why they wanted the name retained.

[Penfold]

Stroll replacing Ocon is likely to cause the following:
Stroll -> Force India
Ocon -> McLaren (no word yet on whether he's replacing the door to Transit or El Fernando)
Kubica -> Williams (filling in for Stroll)

Story is that Ocon will partner Alonso and that the displaced Van Door will take Ericsson's seat.