[PapaofGags]

https://www.planetf1.com/news/new-twist-...over-saga/

A Russian company who lost in their bid to take over Force India has threatened legal action if they don’t receive “satisfactory answers”.
Chemical company Uralkali had already questioned whether the deal with a Lawrence Stroll-led consortium was in the “best interests of Force India creditors and stakeholders, and the sport in general”.

And now they are ready to take the next step unless they receive assurances that the whole takeover process was fair and transparent.
A statement attributed to Uralkali independent director Paul Ostling, who was at the forefront of the bid, said: “Uralkali has serious concerns about the conduct of the bid process for the acquisition of Force India.
“Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Uralkali’s lawyers have accordingly this evening written to the administrators, FRP Advisory LLP, informing them that unless satisfactory explanations are forthcoming by 10 a.m. British Summer Time on 10 September 2018, court proceedings will be brought against them.”
Joint administrators Geoff Rowley and Jason Baker, from FRP Advisory LLP, had already responded responded to Uralkali’s initial concerns, saying “all bidders were given equal opportunity to submit the best deal”.

[forzaferrari]

The FIA has clarified Force India’s engine situation for the remainder of 2018, with attention now shifting to what the team's future prize money status is.
Following the unprecedented decision to grant a new entry to Force India after the takeover by a Lawrence Stroll-led consortium, motor racing’s governing body has moved to clear up regulatory matters relating to the team starting from scratch.
One question was whether or not the new Force India outfit would have to continue using the engine and gearbox allocation of the previous outfit, or would be able to start from scratch as the F1 rule book could in theory allow.
After discussions over the Belgian GP weekend, the FIA has now ruled that Force India must continue using the old allocation. It says it has acted in the best interests of "fairness" in coming to that decision.
In a statement issued ahead of final free practice, a note from the FIA said: “Accordingly, we decide that the numbers of power unit elements and gearboxes referred to in Article 23 of the Sporting Regulations and used to date in 2018 by Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team shall carry forward to Racing Point Force India F1 Team.
“It is noted that the Team Principal of Racing Point Force India F1 Team publicly expressed his prior agreement with this.”

Prize money issue:

While the engine situation has been officially cleared up, fresh questions are now being asked by rival outfits about the classification of Force India in terms of earning prize money.
The team’s rivals have unanimously agreed to allow Force India to keep previously earned prize money, but the situation regarding future earnings is much less certain. Normally, teams need to finish in the top 10 of the constructors’ championship for two out of the previous years before they can earn commercial rights income.
If that stance is adopted for the new Force India team, then it means it would not qualify for prize money before 2020.
It is understood that this was one of the main discussion points during a presentation that Force India owner Lawrence Stroll gave to some rival outfits in the Spa paddock on Friday night.
The prize money matter is one of the key issues for Haas, which as F1’s most recent newest outfit had to wait until this year before it could earn its first income from commercial rights.
Speaking on Friday, Hass boss Gunther Steiner said: “FOM needs to explain what it has done. We have a contract where it is written what is possible or not, and in due course they will explain how they will sort it and how it will work going forward.”
Steiner was spotted in a meeting with F1 chairman Chase Carey and managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn in Spa on Saturday morning, as the issue remains ongoing.

[PapaofGags]

https://www.planetf1.com/news/stroll-set...t-fitting/

Lance Stroll will have a seat fit with Force India on Tuesday ahead of joining the team for next week’s Italian Grand Prix.
That is according to Racefans.net, who believe Stroll will replace Esteban Ocon at Monza, which will in turn pave the way for Robert Kubica to return to Formula 1 with Williams.

Ocon, who has been linked with a move to McLaren, is set to be without a seat until the end of the season, with Stoffel Vandoorne claiming he is “100 per cent” confident he will keep his seat for at least the rest of the 2018 campaign.


No seat for Ocon???...……...  

[LotusLover]

How Stroll gets a seat over Ocon is a complete travesty

[Monster Hesh]

How Stroll gets a seat over Ocon is a complete travesty

Right, there is going to be mega up roar, if Lance thought he had bad press now, it's going to be a shitnami in a weeks time.

[morini]

How Stroll gets a seat over Ocon is a complete travesty

Makes my blood boil! 

The you get Otmar talking up Lance Stroll. Talk about arse licking your boss. Grrrr....

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Like they say in "Full Metal Jacket" - "

it's a huge shit sandwich, and we're all gonna have to take a bite"

But look at it this way, Laurence stroll, saved, Force India, and we all knew what that would mean, Checo, while a decent driver, also brings big backing, Ocon has Toto, I expect a Williams swap - not great for the guy, but he's still young, and has time to get a top drive.

As for Otmar talking up Lance, what do you expect, after his team was just saved, fully intact, haven't seen sky coverage, just C4, didn't know previously, that Laurence, was also previously an investor in SF, so maybe Laurence knows what he's doing. Despite backing his kid, again, would we expect anything else.

Ocon won't be the first, or last driver, to be a victim of circumstance, but he sure put himself on peoples radar, after today.



We need more teams

[PapaofGags]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/racin...l/4319321/

Stroll wants Racing Point to be "one of the greatest" in F1.

Racing Point team owner Lawrence Stroll wants his outfit to use Formula 1's planned 2021 overhaul to become "one of the greatest teams in the paddock".

Stroll led a consortium that bought Force India's assets in the summer, following the team's fall into administration, and was granted an entry from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards under a new identity.

Racing Point has the same human resources as the Force India outfit that secured fourth in the constructors' championship in 2016 and 2017, but is armed with fresh funding and a secure future.

Stroll wants F1's hoped-for commercial and regulatory revolution in 2021 to facilitate major success for his team.

"Short-term, we want to stay fighting where we are," Stroll said in an interview with Formula1.com. "Medium-term, we want to try and fight for third, instead of fourth.

"Long-term, when all the rules, change, hopefully we will be one of the greatest teams in the paddock."

[PapaofGags]

Plans have been unveiled for the Racing Point Formula 1 team to build a brand-new £25 million factory at its Silverstone site.

Planning permission for the new facility will be sought this month and the team hopes to be able to start building later in the year.

The plan is to have construction complete in time for the 2021 Formula 1 season.

"This is a new chapter, the dawn of a new era and there is huge energy from the shareholders to invest and help the team become a regular podium contender in the future," said Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

"The team has never been more stable or in better hands and this project aims to attract and retain the best staff in Formula 1."

Racing Point's current factory is based opposite the gates to the Silverstone grand prix circuit, covering an area of three acres.

It was originally built for the Jordan squad's Formula 1debut in 1991 and has housed the various iterations of the team since then, including Midland, Spyker and Force India.

[Jody Barton]

Great news for Racing Point. They've had a torrid time in recent years, but even so they've managed to bring home some great results. Having said that, now their engine advantage has gone they look to be slipping to the back of the grid.