d7c31e3e09beece8f2c3918aaa61c2908da45fc2

Force India defend how they've been treated

15:48, 28 Aug 2018

byBobby Vincent

Force India defends the way they have been treated, after they have been allowed to instantly win F1 prize money, which has left some teams unhappy about their treatment.

Force India have been in a sticky situation recently following the side going into administration briefly before they were saved by Lawrence Stroll and his consortium.

So the team had to enter the Belgian Grand Prix as a new entry and it was expected that the team would have to wait to earn new Column 1 earnings.

The team are set to get the same income as they were getting before... but this sort of move needs approval from other rival teams.

Force India's team principal Otmar Szafnauer has admitted that he understands the frustration that the other teams have with the situation - however, he believes that F1 are handling the situation in the right manner.

"I understand why a new entrant needs to finish in the top ten for two years in a row, to start getting Column 1," Szafnauer told Motorsport.com. "In the past, when teams would enter, not really have the resources to enter and then they would be in for a bit an out, and in, Bernie (Ecclestone) didn't want that.

"He wanted ten solid teams. So, Bernie though, right, if you can survive for two years without money from me, then the third year you do get money from me then there is no question that you can survive. That is why he did it for new entrants.

"This team has been racing for 25 years. It is not a new entrant. There is no question of survival going forward. So that bit of it doesn't really apply - not to mention 25 years ago when it entered it probably had to do that. So why do it twice?"