In accord to Autosport, Formula One Team Force India are close to signing a deal that will re-brand the team as Aston Martin Racing from next season.
Aston Martin hasn’t been part of Formula One since 1960, meaning that the famous British manufacturer will return to the sport after half a century.
It’s believed that the sportscar manufacturer wishes to take on their rivals Ferrari and McLaren on the track, not just on the road.
The matter has previously ignited rumours of a tie-up with the Red Bull Renault team, along with talks with the Williams and Force India teams.
It’s been suggested that the team’s livery will switch to blue and gold, courtesy of a sponsorship with Johnnie Walker. This change will go along with the team name change.
Aston Martin are hoping to use the technology they will use in F1 for their road cars, making them more competitive with McLaren and Ferrari.
Force India are currently supplied with Mercedes engines, with the German manufacturer owning 5% of Aston Martin.
Force India team principal Vijay Mallya spoke to Autosport, he said:
“If tomorrow someone comes and offers me a good sum of money for title sponsorship, I’ll seek the team name.
“If the marque comes along and I have to change the team name, I have to look at what it does for the team in terms of profile.
“It’s premature to talk about it now, but we’re talking.
“Nothing is done until it’s done. I don’t like to count my chickens until they are hatched.”
This weekend sees Force India driver Sergio Perez drive at this home race, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The team principal said that it is premature to talk about the matter now, despite the fact that they are already talking about.
“Nothing is done until it’s done. I don’t like to count my chickens until they are hatched.”
A Force India spokesperson also said that ‘the future remains very bright for the team.’
The team, currently fifth in the Constructor’s Championship, will need to apply to an F1 commercial right’s holder in order to change the name of the team; but the permission is deemed a formality.
