2018 Assessment – Force India / Racing Point: The King is Dead, Long Live the King

Championship ranking: 7th for Racing Point, 52 pts

Best race finish: 3rd (Pérez – Azerbaijan)

Two entities for the same team, a rare occurrence, but such was the adventure of the staff dressed in pink in 2018.

Subscriber to the fourth place in the championship for two years, 2018 began under the aegis of Force India, managed since its entry into F1 by Vijay Mallya.

Led by the Frenchman Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, the team experienced relatively average performances at the start of the season until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the Mexican secured a 3rd place, truly kick-starting the Indian team’s season.

This was followed by a series of fine performances, including Esteban Ocon’s impressive sixth place in Monaco.

As the season progresses, rumors are growing about the financial difficulties of the Force India team.

These are confirmed and the situation evolves with the involvement of the Mexican team driver who places the structure under judicial administration.

The Force India Formula 1 team was placed into administration on July 27, and a real threat looms over the team and its future.

Ten days later, Lance Stroll’s father, Lawrence, announces the acquisition of the Silverstone-based structure through a consortium of investors. Creditors will be paid, as will the Mexican driver. The group is made up of various businessmen including Lawrence Stroll, a Canadian billionaire entrepreneur, André Desmarais, also a Canadian businessman and the seventh richest person in Canada, Jonathan Dudman, an English wealth manager based in Monaco, and John Idol, co-owner of the fashion brand Michael Kors.

The funds are back and the team is renamed Racing Point Force India in the process. The consequence for the new structure newly led by the American Otmar Szafnauer is that it starts from scratch, as all points from the previous Force India are annulled.

It is therefore after the annulment of 59 points that the team resumes action at Spa. They do not seem disturbed by the events and achieve a superb result in Belgium by securing fifth and sixth places.

The two drivers have had a superb second half of the season despite a few retirements and a disqualification in Austin for Esteban Ocon.

At the end of the season, the team has 52 points, securing seventh place in the Constructors’ standings. A superb performance for half a season, knowing that they fictitiously finish fifth with a total of 111 points. Despite a tight budget, the team completes 15 out of 21 races by bringing both cars to the finish line.

In any case, the team is saved and secures its future with the Lawrence Stroll consortium.

Coming from Williams and the debacle of the British team, the young Canadian Lance Stroll is joining the young Racing Point team, which is awaiting its new name to start in 2019 alongside Sergio Perez. The son of the new owner will have to prove that he deserves his privileged spot against a formidable teammate who, although backed by major sponsors, remains an excellent competitor.

The young Canadian holds his future credibility in the paddock in his hands. If the first simulator tests indicate he’s on par with Ocon’s times, there’s no doubt the task will prove to be quite different on the track.

Esteban Ocon:

Ranking in the championship: 12th, 49 pts

Best qualifying position: 3rd (Belgium)

Best race finish: 6th (Monaco, Austria, Belgium, Italy)

After a superb 2017 season where he consistently secured points at almost every Grand Prix, the young French driver is unable to replicate past performances and laments a difficult start to the season with only one point from the first five Grand Prix.

Despite his evolving performances and strong qualifications, Esteban Ocon will be sidelined at the end of the season, with the new owner logically placing his son in the team.

The Frenchman finished behind his teammate in the standings with 49 points and a twelfth place compared to Perez’s eighth place with 62 points, but achieved an impressive 17/4 in qualifying duels.

The native of Evreux is a victim of the racing business and finds himself excluded from all planning for 2019, except for a third driver position within the Mercedes team, to which he is still tied.

Sergio Perez:

Championship ranking: 8th, 62 pts