When the cars arrived at the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, a noted change was larger numbers on the cars’ livery. It was a much needed change, helping to move clearly identify drivers on the track, and has been well received by the fans of the sport.
The change was decided upon at a recent strategy group meeting where the people in attendance decided to regulate the number size. Teams were asked to have a number clearly displayed from above and then other numbers clearly displayed on the sides of the car. Most teams opted to put the numbers on the nose and the shark fin. However, Force India was a little different.
While they increased the size of the number on the nose, they opted to put the side numbers on the top of the side pod, making it difficult to see from ground level. Feeling that the numbers did not satisfy the FIA’s request, Force India was fined €25,000.
However, it’s important to note that Force India’s car made it through all of the sessions and pre-race scrutineering without so much as a comment about the numbers by the stewards. Since no one had complained about the car’s numbers before the race and the team have agreed to work with the FIA to fix the issue, the fine has been suspended for a year.
But Force India has found itself in a bit of a difficult situation. While most of the teams opted to put the number on the shark fin, Force India’s shark fin currently contains the branding of the team’s main sponsor, BWT. The engine cover is full of sponsors including Hype, NEC, Kingfisher, W66.com and FXTM, while the endplates on the rear wing contain the logos of Quaker State and Telcel.
The unfortunate situation for Force India is that the sponsors sign a contract that specifies were the logos are to be placed on the car, so the team simply can’t move logos around to make space for the number. The changes will require negotiations with sponsors, a process that could take weeks.
The team will have two weeks to discuss the matter with their sponsors before the Monaco Grand Prix.
