While results on track have continually improved, off it Force India’s situation is less certain with a report claiming talks are being held over a potential takeover.
The Silverstone-based team is yet to confirm a launch date for its VJM11 with testing less than a week away but have confirmed they will be in Barcelona with development driver Nikita Mazepin behind the wheel on Monday.
This comes amid talks of a name change for 2018 and as founder and team boss Vijay Mallya continues his ongoing legal battle with the Indian government who seek his extradition from the UK, where he has been forced to stay for over a year.
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The future of Force India has never been doubted amid the ongoing off-track situation but Mallya is believed to be wanting to sell with British energy drinks firm Rich Energy now interested, according to the Daily Mail.
A figure of around £200m is being mentioned for the team with Rich Energy having ties in football, the hotel industry and in F1 thanks to a partnership with the Monaco Grand Prix.
Always known as one of the smaller budgeted outfits on the grid, despite finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship the last two seasons, it will be interesting to see if there is any impact on their competitiveness this year.
