FOM boycotts Force India on Saturday - rumours
Apr.21 (GMM) Rumours are swirling after qualifying in Bahrain that Force India was deliberately excluded from Saturday's 'world feed' television coverage.
That coverage is controlled by Formula One Management, the sport's Bernie Ecclestone-run company.
F1 chief executive Ecclestone is believed to have been angry on Friday that Force India sat out the second practice session over security fears.
The 81-year-old Briton offered to ride in the Silverstone based team's hire vehicles after dark with frightened mechanics and personnel, but revealed late on Friday that they had turned down the offer.
Then on Saturday, as Force India returned to the track for the third practice session and qualifying, television viewers noticed that the orange, green and white cars were conspicuously absent from their screens.
That was despite Paul di Resta racing all the way through the three-part qualifying session into Q3.
"You could say it was Bernie's revenge, I couldn't comment," The Times' Kevin Eason said on Twitter.
Another journalist, Adam Hay-Nicholls, joked that the Force India blackout "could be season-long unless the team goes grovelling to Mr E".
Share Or Save This Story
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
When Paul Di Resta beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 title
Paul Di Resta cautious about the WEC's future: "What's good never lasts forever"
Why Peugeot swapped Jean-Eric Vergne for Stoffel Vandoorne in WEC 2026
Otmar Szafnauer reveals failed Kimi Raikkonen bid involving "Angry Birds" founders
Esteban Ocon explains why he collided with Sergio Perez so often at Force India
Former Force India F1 boss Fernley dies aged 70
Vincent Vosse on BMW, IMSA and the future of endurance racing
Audi has the fourth best chassis and will close engine gap in 2028, says Mattia Binotto
Why F1's sprint format needs a shake-up
Aprilia: Marco Bezzecchi coping well with pressure but real test yet to come
Why F1's sprint format needs a shake-up
Top 10 Italian F1 drivers
Flying the flag: What will be F1's next new nationality?
On this day: Jaguar signing Newey sparks legal row
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments