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Force India deny 'crisis'

Saturday 19th January 2013

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Force India deny 'crisis'

Force India deny 'crisis'

Force India's Bob Fernley has denied that the F1 team is in "crisis" and on the verge of "collapse".

Last year, team owner Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher airline was grounded as the company was in considerable debt owing money for unpaid salaries, vendor and airport fees and tax arrears.

When the news of Kingfisher's woes broke, Force India was keen to distance itself from the airline, however a report has emerged in Italy claiming that it too is in financial trouble.

According to Italiaracing, "Force India is in crisis", adding that it could face "collapse."

The magazine claims that in recent days F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone "activated a plan to save the team."

That plan could see either former team boss Colin Kolles, who was last in charge of HRT in 2011, make a return or even Flavio Briatore.

The team, though, has denied the report.

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley told Autosport: "There is absolutely no substance to it.

"Our shareholder Vijay and Sahara are incredibly strong. They don't need partners.

"As we speak, we are putting together and implementing an expansion programme that Vijay talked about at the end of last year.

"And all that is going ahead and moving forward. For the last four years, coming now to our fifth year, the team has been financed without any dependence on the shareholders' companies that they own.

"There is absolutely no substance to it anywhere and that's the thing that's very distressing."

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