Is Vijay Mallya Losing Control of Force India?

With the news that Mercedes will supply engines to Force India for 2009 and that McLaren will play an active role in the company, bringing technical data, aero help, drive-trains and KERS systems to the Silverstone based team, is Vijay Mallya losing control of his F1 team?

Just over a month ago, I reported the news that McLaren and Mercedes would strike a deal with Force India, I also said I expect the driver line-up to change at F1 to incorporate a British driver, likely to replace Giancarlo Fisichella.

This would result in the team having a British driver and a German driver; what more could McLaren and Mercedes want?

See my archived article here.

Force India, however, released news that the driver line-up would not change for 2009, and both Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella would retain their race seats.

This quashed my rumours over a new driver line-up involving young Briton Paul Di Resta, or any other driver change.

Here's what Vijay Mallya had to say on the matter...

"They (McLaren) will recommend what they believe to be in the best interest of my team and I have to decide. And I would be hard pressed to ignore their advice,"

"The first thing is building the car. If we don't have a car, then there's no point in having a driver...It's already pushing the envelope a little bit, so we need to focus on the car. the driver comes next, and we will have these conversations."

He continued with this statement; "I am going to do whatever it takes, there are no emotions involved."

Martin Whitmarsh then added; "There's nothing off-bounds in this partnership."

If you ask me, that sounds like the drivers could change for the 2009 season, whether it be McLaren, Mercedes, or Vijay Mallya's decision.

It may not result in Paul Di Resta getting a drive. Pedro De La Rosa could be a likely candidate, with his extensive background and knowledge at McLaren. It may not even result in a driver change at all, we shall see...

On another note, Simon Roberts, current head at McLaren Applied Technologies will be moving to Force India as operating chief.