Speculation that Lance Stroll is to join Force India in 2019 has taken a big step with reports in Germany his father Lawrence is now poised to buy the Silverstone-based team.
The squad, owned by embattled entrepreneur Vijay Mallya, has been for sale for some time with British energy drinks company Rich Energy linked to a takeover, however, as Williams struggle for competitiveness, the billionaire fashion mogul is set to step in with Force India poised for bankruptcy.
That will undoubtedly result in his son moving for next season with rumours suggesting Esteban Ocon is to return to Renault and Carlos Sainz to McLaren, replacing Stoffel Vandoorne or an exiting Fernando Alonso.
This season has been more of a struggle for Force India, with the team slipping back in the midfield after finishing fourth each of the past two seasons.
Despite that, they still only sit one place lower in fifth with a double points finish at Hockenheim moving them level on points with Haas.
Even so, COO Otmar Szafnauer admits the financial situation is the main hurdle the team is facing as they look to keep pace with those around them.
“To win a development race you need the resources to be able to develop,” he told Autosport. “We are suffering, truth be told.
“If we had more resources, both financial and internal manufacturing, we’d have parts on the car quicker. And in a development race, that hurts you.”
While nothing is yet official regarding Stroll’s takeover, it is considered a matter of when not if the Canadian will make his move and bring Mallya’s 10-year F1 foray to a close.