Force India, on Monday, unveiled its new car --VJM11 -- for the 2018 season, hours ahead of first testing.
It was Formula One's own version of the ugly duckling maturing into a graceful swan as Force India shed its backmarker's tag to rub shoulders with the F1 bigwigs in what was nothing less then a heady fairytale season for the Silverstone-based outfit.
Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya has steered his Formula One team through a decade of growth and is looking forward to another, although the 'India' moniker looks destined to be dropped.
Sahara Force India ended the 2014 season on a high with Nico Hulkenberg finishing the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in sixth position just ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.
'I am ready pleased with the new car and it feels much better. It already gives more grip than the last year,' says Force India driver Adrian Sutil.
Force India finished sixth in 2014 but spent much of last season calling for cost cuts.
The report also revealed the parlous finances of the Vijay Mallya-owned team at the time they were taken into administration last July.
Sahara Force India claimed a historic fourth place finish, their best ever show, in the Formula One Championships this season after Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez finished seventh and eighth respectively at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Force India's Sergio Perez has said he is yet to decide if he will drive for the Formula One team next season.
Vitantonio Liuzzi opened Team India's three-day test at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in southern Spain as the Formula One team, part-owned by Vijay Mallya, pushed on with its programme of getting to grips with the new Electronic Control Unit.
Formula One's first pre-season test ended in Jerez with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen fastest.
Vijay Mallya, who is being pursued by Indian authorities over unpaid loans tied to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has taken steps that could see India disappear from the name of his Formula One team.
Sahara India needs to pay back $5.3 billion, raised from millions of small investors through the sale of bonds ruled by the Supreme Court to be illegal, before founder Subrata Roy can be released.
'I love Vijay. My heart is really broken because I know this is not ideal in the short term for him, but the big picture is really different'
This property has all the hallmarks of being owned and occupied by Vijay Mallya. A fleet of supercars making their way down the drive, hordes of people descending to party all night long and a constant delivery of goods and services.
Vijay Mallya will reveal the 2008 Force India F1 car in Mumbai on February 7.
Force India, who finished sixth overall last year but whose owners have had financial troubles, missed the first test in Jerez.
Embattled Force India team boss Vijay Mallya made his Indian Grand Prix entrance in combative mood on Saturday, lashing local media for their coverage of his business troubles and grounded Kingfisher airline.
Pai said he was also against 'naming and shaming' willful defaulters of bank loans.
Force India Formula One team co-owner Vijay Mallya has warned the country not to expect too much from the team in 2008 despite a big budget increase. The Indian billionaire bought into the Spyker team and renamed it after last season and interest has been drummed up further through advertisements about "the force of a billion hearts."
Barely a day after Force India's historic podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix, a war of words broke out between Sports Minister M S Gill and Vijay Mallya on the government's refusal to acknowledge Formula One as a sport.
Force India's feuding team mates met on Thursday to reset their relationship after French rookie Esteban Ocon accused Mexican Sergio Perez of trying to kill him at last weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Vijay Mallya to overturn charges against him for allegedly violating foreign exchange rules, adding to the legal challenges facing one of the country's most prominent businessmen.
German Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg will leave Force India and race for Renault in 2017 after signing a multi-year deal with the French manufacturer.
The new livery brings a fresh trackside image for the team with the introduction of black alongside the traditional colours of saffron, white and green.
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya landed up at a 'charity dinner' organised by Virat Kohli's foundation in London on Monday but the national cricket team including the skipper maintained a safe distance from him.
Sahara Force India team principal Vijay Mallya, on Thursday, refused to reveal whether he will retain Adrian Sutil for the next season but said he would convey his decision to the German driver whenever he wants.
Force India Chairman Vijay Mallya is expecting both Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi to be among points in Sunday's British Grand Prix and reckons a podium finish is possible in Spa and Monza.
'It isn't as if I have any emotional ups and downs. I have done absolutely nothing wrong. In fact I am glad that it is finally before a UK court and an impartial court. So we wait and see how it plays out' 'If you look at my role in the team, there's nothing for me to miss. I am participating in all the decision-making and I've got a virtual pit wall at home. I miss being around but I'm also happy in my space. My time will come and I'll go back to the tracks'
Even though both the drivers finished inside the top 10 Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said he had expected the Canadian Grand Prix to yield more points for the Silverstone-based outfit.
Force India owner Vijay Mallya on Tuesday said he would consider promising motor race driver Karun Chandhok for his Formula One team if he can finish inside top three in the GP2 Series for a couple of years.
Indian Formula One fans should be proud of their own team rather than bemoaning the lack of homegrown talent on the starting grid, Force India's flamboyant owner Vijay Mallya said.
Fatherhood has changed Sergio Perez's life since the end of last season and the Mexican hopes the coming year in Formula One could be just as transformative on the track.
India will produce a Formula One driver like Lewis Hamilton one day but it will take time, Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday. Asked in a team interview whether he was actively looking for an Indian driver or Indian personnel, the flamboyant billionaire said he simply wanted the best regardless of nationality.
Force India vowed to rein in fractious Formula One drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez after more costly collisions between the pair at the Belgian Grand Prix.
A huge monkey off Force India's back, team chairman Vijay Mallya said the Formula One outfit has actually delivered on its promise of a podium finish one year before the 2010 deadline it had set.
India will start construction of a Formula One circuit near New Delhi in October and is on track to host its first Grand Prix in 2010, Force India team owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday. Mallya, who bought the Spyker team last year and renamed it, has said he wants Force India to be in a position to claim their first podium finish by 2010 when they can expect to be racing in front of a home crowd.
Despite starting from the back of the grid, Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez collected seven points for Sahara Force India from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, in Melbourne on Sunday.
The VJM02 will remain the same blindingly fast car, with or without Giancarlo Fisichella, and Adrian Sutil is good enough to score points in the remaining five races of the 2009 season, said Force India chairman Vijay Mallya.
Troubled Indian businessman Vijay Mallya is set to make a rare public appearance in the United Kingdom on Friday when he is scheduled to attend the team bosses press conference ahead of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
