Drivers at Force India and Williams appear unlikely to feature in this year's F1 'silly season'. He may now be an 'ex-billionaire' as his airline sinks, and he is set to begin the new financial year by facing court in India as an alleged 'wilful defaulter', but Vijay Mallya's Force India team is doing well in formula one.
"We are competing consistently against a team like Ferrari, which operates on a budget more than double of what we use," team boss Bob Fernley told the Indian news agency PTI. "It goes to show that the smaller teams can compete against the top teams."
Indeed, Force India - based just a stone's throw from the British grand prix venue at Silverstone - is nipping at Ferrari's heels for third in the constructors' championship, and comfortably ahead of another F1 giant, McLaren. The 2014 car is powered by the field-leading Mercedes V6, but Force India is also happy with the pair of drivers at the wheel.
"I have a great respect for Checo and his talent," Mallya, referring to Mexican Sergio Perez's nickname, said this week. "He's a talented young lad and I'm happy to have him in the team." Mallya also said he is happy with German Nico Hulkenberg, who alongside Perez completes Force India's new-in-2014 lineup. "Nico's class is well recognised in the paddock," he said, "and he's scored points in every race this year."
Yet another driver not on the market for 2015 is Felipe Massa, who after a sometimes sputtering start after his move from Ferrari finally broke through with a popular pole in Austria last time out. He spent last weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, driving Damon Hill's 1996 title-winning car and reminding reporters that his new Williams contract still has two more years to run.
Asked if the German touring car series DTM might be an option for his future, Massa told Speed Week: "Of course, why not. I even thought about it last year when I didn't know if I would be staying in formula one. But I will be here (F1) for a few more years." (GMM)
Mallya happy with Force India driver pairing
- Published on 01 Jul 2014 11:26
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
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Jan 26
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M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
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G. Russell
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L. Hamilton
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team -
- Points -
- Podiums -
- Grand Prix -
- Country BR
- Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Sao Paulo, BR
- Weight 59 kg
- Length 1.66 m
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Felipe Massa
Team profile
- Team name Williams
- Base Grove, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
- Jacques Villeneuve 1
- Logan Sargeant 2
- Ayrton Senna 2
- Jacques Villeneuve 3
- Nicholas Latifi 6
- Jacques Villeneuve 6
- Nico Rosberg 7
- Nico Hülkenberg 10
- Nico Rosberg 10
- Jenson Button 10
- Pastor Maldonado 12
- Pastor Maldonado 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Nico Rosberg 16
- Valtteri Bottas 17
- Lance Stroll 18
- Pastor Maldonado 18
- Felipe Massa 19
- Alexander Albon 23
- Sergey Sirotkin 35
- Nyck de Vries 45
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Robert Kubica 88
- 161,846 comments on Williams
- 39 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Williams
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