Vijay Mallya's Force India: Is It Really Forceful?

For starters, Formula 1 is an uncharted territory for me, and therefore I have strictly decided that in case this piece doesn't bode well, the next time I resurface with any new contribution in the area, it shall be a bit better than the current one.

Just this once, I have restricted myself to the one person who enjoys more media popularity in India than a politician or actor in the country: Vijay Mallya and his F1 team, Force India.

Now I am not that well versed with most of the rules and regulations of the game but whatever my limited knowledge tells me, they doesn't appear favourable from Force India's perspective.

Last year, the team made its debut and didn't have a great outing. That's fine, things need to settle. But what about this year?

After all the promises that Mallya made about getting a good run, the two races until now did not substantiate the point.

Correct me if I am wrong, but is it too early to predict anything? I mean even if a couple of races were down in the dumps, can that be compensated in the upcoming ones?

And even if it is a positive head nod, is the Force India team really capable of turning the tide in the next few weeks? Does the car have the go in it to get past the new leader, Jenson Button, or someone like Kimi Raikkonen?

If it is a Lewis Hamilton, it's imaginable, but with Sutil and Fisichella, can the same be said?

There is a thin line of demarcation between confidence and over-confidence; and Vijay Mallya seems to have crossed it. I for one, can't understand what is he bragging more about, his money power or his team power?

The recession pinch, hitting every pocket around the world, already a couple of teams have winded their business: Is it not so? Then if Force India does so poorly, can it be expected to be next in the guillotine?

Who is to blame if such a scenario arises: Mallya, the drivers, or the entire team? Or is such a picture just a figment of my over-hyped negative imagination?