Formula 1: Force India forfeit points, change name before Belgian Grand Prix

Force India have forfeited their Formula 1 constructor points and been renamed Racing Point Force India ahead of this Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Sahara Force India were saved from administration over the Formula 1 summer break by a consortium led by Canadian billionaire investor Lawrence Stroll, the father of second-year Williams Martini Racing driver Lance Stroll.

The team were sent into administration by the backers of one of their two current drivers, 28-year-old Sergio Perez, to protect them from the threat of a winding-up offer, which allowed the Stroll-led consortium to capitalize and make their purchase.

The Belgian Grand Prix is the next race on the 21-race 2018 Formula 1 schedule, and that race is scheduled to take place this Sunday, August 26. It is the 13th race of the season and the first race after the summer break, which began following the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, July 29.

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Force India are set to compete in the Belgian Grand Prix despite the fact that there were originally doubts that they would be able to do so following the intense scrutiny of the legal situation surrounding their takeover.

This is the case as a result of the fact that the FIA have approved their new entry under the new name Racing Point Force India, meaning that the former Force India entry has been annulled.

Through the first 12 races of the season, Force India had totaled 59 points, and they sat in sixth place in the constructor standings. Perez is currently in a tie for 10th in the driver standings with 30 points and the team’s other driver, Esteban Ocon, is in 12th in the standings with 29 points.

Force India have surrendered these 59 points ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at the 19-turn, 4.353-mile (7.004-kilometer) Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps road course in Stavelot, Belgium, but they will be allowed to compete in the race under their new name.

This means that McLaren, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Alfa Romeo Sauber and Williams have moved from seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th place in the constructor standings to sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.

Neither Perez not Ocon will surrender the points in the driver standings that they have accumulated so far this season.

Here is what Racing Point Force India team principal Otmar Szafnauer had to say about the matter, according to the BBC.

"“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.”"

Here is what FIA president Jean Todt had to say about the matter, according to Motorsport.com.

"“I am very pleased that a strong, positive outcome has been reached and welcome the mid-season entry of Racing Point Force India. Creating an environment of financial stability in Formula One is one of the key challenges faced by the sport, however thanks to the hard work of the FIA, the Joint Administrators, Racing Point and Formula One Management we have a situation now that safeguards the future for all of the highly-talented employees, and will maintain the fair and regulated championship competition for the second half of the season.”"

Here is what Formula 1 chairman Chase Carey had to say about the matter, according to the BBC.

"“We are very pleased that the situation around Racing Point Force India has been resolved and that the team will continue to race in Formula 1.I t is also very gratifying that in partnership with the stakeholders involved we have been able to safeguard the livelihoods of the many hundreds of people working at its Silverstone base. It’s enormously important that we have a full grid of competitive, capable teams in Formula 1 and we are confident that Racing Point Force India will go from strength to strength in the future.”"

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How will Force India perform in this Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix, which is set to be their first Formula 1 race competing under their new name, Racing Point Force India? Be sure to tune in to ESPN2 at 9:10 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 26 for the live broadcast of the race from Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

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