- Force India Formula One team's name changed to Race Point Force India
- Will start this season with zero points in the championship standings
- Drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez will retain their points in the driver’s standings
India’s very own Formula One team, Force India, had been struggling to keep their game strong for a while now. Emerging as a new ray of hope, billionaire Lawrence Stroll has bought the team and rebranded it as Race Point Force India and has been granted official entry in the Formula 1 by the FIA.
The new entity will start this season with zero points in the championship standings, which is indeed a setback for the Silverstone-based team's progress this season. However, drivers Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez will retain their points in the driver’s standings. The latest development will result in the former Force India's entry being annulled and also excluded from the world championship with immediate effect. Until now, Sahara Force India stood sixth in the constructors' standings with 59 points and had competitive cars to rise up to fourth, similar to the previous two seasons.
Speaking on the occasion, Racing Point Force India's team principal, Otmar Szafnauer said, "The new Racing Point Force India Team is delighted to be able to race when the championship resumes in Belgium this weekend. 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."
