Mallya denies debt, failure and jail are hurting Force India

Vijay Mallya has distanced Force India from the travails of the Silverstone based team's co-owners. For one, the Indian's struggling airline, Kingfisher, is grounded and in debt. "My airline is a corporation," Mallya insisted on Wednesday.

"I know of no company in the world in which the director or a shareholder is held responsible for the entire group. In addition to the airline I have many other companies, and my main business is the sale of alcoholic beverages. This is growing continuously and not at all affected by the problems of the airline," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Force India's other main shareholder, meanwhile, is Subrata Roy, heading the title sponsor Sahara. At the present moment, Indian Roy is in jail, reportedly after failing to pay back billions to investors. "Sahara's problems have nothing to do with formula one," Mallya said. "Two of his companies have collected money from investors, which is being examined and challenged. But Sahara's investment in our team is completely independent of that," he added.

Mallya also played down suggestions the issues of debt, failure and jail are bad for Force India's image. "That is an academic question," he insisted. "So far, not a single sponsor has run away. Our team is evaluated for its performance on the race track, and the benefits that derive from that," said Mallya. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar