The legendary Brabham name could be returning to Formula 1 as part of a takeover of the Force India team, according to veteran journalist Roger Benoit.
The long-time correspondent for Switzerland’s Blick newspaper made the claim citing reports in Autocar, suggesting current embattled owners Vijay Mallya and Subrata Roy are looking to sell the Silverstone-based outfit for around £200 million.
This comes as Mallya is currently facing extradition back to India to face legal charges against him, while Roy has also recently served jail time.
The Autocar report added David Brabham, son of three-time F1 champion Sir Jack Brabham, is working with a US-based consortium on a project that would be based on McLaren’s model of combining a supercar company with an outfit in F1.
Asked about the rumours, the Australian was noncommittal telling Autocar: “Brabham is a brand with more than 69 years of racing heritage and it is our intention to see the name back on track.
“Since Project Brabham was launched, we have received a lot of enquiries from different parties who have expressed an interest in licensing the name and we are evaluating a number of options. We have no further comment.”
Benoit also wondered whether F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was involved, with the 86-year-old still looking to use his significant influence to shape events in the paddock. Ecclestone also has history with the Brabham name, as it was he who bought the original Brabham team in 1972 before selling on and focusing full-time as the commercial rights holder in 1987.
Force India would be an attractive venture for a party looking to enter F1, as they finished fourth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship, their best result since joining the grid in 2008, and currently sit in the same position again after four races of the 2017 season.