Source: Force India Media

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Rivals blocked Liberty Media's loan to Force India

Rivals blocked Liberty Media's loan to Force India

16-06-2018 13:22
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Bobby Vincent

Force India's chief operating officer, Otmar Szafnauer has admitted that its request for a loan from Liberty Media was blocked earlier this year by their rivals.

Force India were having some financial troubles earlier this year and needed any help they could get.

"It's no secret we asked for a bit of money up front so that gets us through the winter," Szafnauer told Reuters.

"This year that money wasn't forthcoming because I think some of the teams said 'you can't do that', and blocked it.

"It put a bit of financial strain on us over the winter.

"If you have 10 million extra in November and December, then you can build the car parts. If you don't, you can't.

"It makes it more difficult. And I would imagine that's one of the reasons why some of the other teams said no."

Szafnauer explained how Force India had to compromise some things in order to survive with their financial issues over winter.

"We couldn't push the car," Force India's chief operating officer said.

"You couldn't go off, you make sure you didn't hit anything.

"But now we're past the winter months, it should be easier for us."

Szafnauer is very optimistic for the rest of Force India's season after going through their difficult spell.

"The nice thing is that the 10 million advance we used to always get, that used to come off at one million every month," he said.

"That's not happening now, so we are better off."