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New Name – Same Spirit
Force India renamed after new ownership

Following whirlwind negotiations, Force India have new owners; the new team now formally to be known as Racing Point UK Limited. With an official F1 championship entry already in pocket, they’ll debut in this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix earlier this month, Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll (father of Williams driver Lance Stroll) led an all-star consortium of investors in the rescue of Force India out of administration. The handover of assets to the consortium was completed on Thursday.

Racing Point / Force India will start the Belgian Grand Prix as an entirely new entity, have been stripped of all the Constructors’ Championship points they previously earned this season due to its inability to complete the 2018 season.

Force India had ranked sixth in the standings with 59 points but will arrive at Spa in 10th place in the standings with zero points. To their good fortune, McLaren, Toro Rosso, Sauber and Williams each move up one spot in the Constructor’s Championship.

The good news is that race drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon will keep their points in the drivers’ standings, and Racing Point will immediately be able to compete for championship points and are a sure bet to rise from the cellar quickly.

“The new Racing Point Force India Team is delighted to be able to race when the championship resumes in Belgium this weekend,” said Otmar Szafnauer, previously the team’s chief operating officer, and now confirmed as the team’s new team principal.

“This heralds a new and exciting chapter for us. Just a few weeks ago, an uncertain future lay ahead, with more than 400 jobs at risk; now the new team has the backing of a consortium of investors, led by Lawrence Stroll, who believe in us as a team, in our expertise and in our potential to achieve success on the track.

“We are grateful to the FIA, the Joint Administrators and Formula One Management for their support in helping us achieve such a welcome outcome and ultimately, we trust, for the sport and its many fans.”

With developments like this in F1, there are always other “shoes to drop,” as other teams react strategically and practically to the change of team ranking.

At the most significant risk of collateral damage is Williams F1, as Lawrence Stroll also made a substantial investment to that team, with son Lance joining the legendary, but currently struggling squad in 2018. That aid now seems to be in danger of moving in total to Racing Point.

Ask about whether he would be joining the Racing Point crew in 2019, Lance Stroll deferred to the new team to make any announcements but spoke about his father’s point of view in rescuing the struggling Force India group.

“They were in a very difficult position,” said Stroll, “and he believed he could help grow the company and make them as competitive as they can be.”

“He saw that they currently punch above their weight. They do a really good job with what they have so he saw a lot of opportunities and a lot of potential.”

Mercedes-AMG is expected to continue supplying Racing Point power units, with the firm also planning aid with gearbox, bodywork and aero developments in 2019.