The former director of Force India, Bob Fernley, has passed away
Icon of the Indian stable, owned by Viljay Mallya, the British leader and businessman, passed away last Friday at the age of 70.
Absent from the paddocks since 2018, the year Lawrence Stroll purchased the Force India team, Bob Fernley is known in the world of Formula 1 for being Vijay Mallya’s loyal right-hand man during the team’s decade of operation based in Silverstone under the Indian flag.
At the end of 2007, when the Indian businessman bought the Spyker team to create Force India, Fernley was already involved. Initially serving as the deputy team principal, he eventually took over the reins of the team when Mallya faced legal troubles that prevented him from leaving the UK. Alongside Otmar Szafnauer, who was the director of performance at the time, Fernley achieved miracles leading a team with fewer resources compared to its rivals.
After difficult beginnings, Force India scored its first points in 2009, the year of its only pole position obtained in Belgium by Giancarlo Fisichella. This is followed by continuous progress until reaching 4th place in the championship during the seasons 2016 and 2017. In the meantime, the team has always managed to attract renowned drivers to its cars.
Fisichella, but also Adrian Sutil, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Paul di Resta, Nico Hülkenberg, Sergio Pérez, and Esteban Ocon have all participated in Grand Prix races behind the wheel of cars with the colors of the Indian or pink flag (for the 2017 and 2018 seasons). Jules Bianchi also took part in several free practice sessions in 2012 as the team’s third driver.
After his career in F1, Fernley had taken the lead of the McLaren program at the 500 miles of Indianapolis in 2019, during which Fernando Alonso failed to qualify. His last position in motorsport was as director of the FIA single-seater commission between 2020 and 2022.
