Force to India : Sahara Force India F1 Racing team

Vijay Mallya always had an eye for the spectacular. His alcohol is the best in the world, his airlines has one the most good looking staff in its segment, he owns a Formula 1 racing team and a IPL team.
What encouraged this maverick billionaire to invest in a sport in which he could not be the best? I am sure Mallya knew that by buying Spykar in 2007 he would not be able to the best constructor in F1 or attract drivers that would fight for F1 driver’s championships.
Considering that Mr. Mallya only wants the best of the best in any thing he does, why did he choose F1?
Flashback to 2006. India motor racing knew a certain Narain Karthiyekan, the fastest Indian they used to call him. The country India was no where on the map of motor sports, leave aside F1, the premier motor sports tournament.
The patriotic side of Mallya is less known. He had spent millions in bringing back Gandhi’s legacy to India and another million or so in bringing back Tipu Sultan’s sword to India. Millions put into use to keep India’s legacy in the country.
For me, that explains the reason for him buying a F1 team. Not because he would be the best but because it would be called ‘Force India’ or in my words, Force to India..
After he bought the team in 2007, IOC announced in September 2007 that India would host its first Grand Prix in 2010. Mallya as the Chairman of Indian Motorosports and owner of a F1 team certainly had a say.
Force India in its early years did not get much of television time. Constantly below the top 10, the cameras had no incentive to cover their races.
But when the cameras did focus on them, viewers in India saw a formula 1 car draped in the Indian flag colours vying against the best in the world.
As years went by,Force India rose to as high as 6th in the Constructor’s championships. It attracted some talented drivers and some wealthy investors.
Force India has never won a race in the last 6 years. It has never finished in the top three of the constructor’s championships. The best it has done in a race is 2nd , a race marred by controversy that was. The best constructor position it has got is 6th.
Could Force India have done better?
I argue that they did not need to. Because in the last six years they have done a lot more than winning races and championships.
They have flown the flag of India in the European dominated sport of Formula 1.They have brought Formula 1 racing to India.
Finally, they have created a fan base in India that would, looking at the television on a Sunday evening, proudly say – that’s an Indian team owned by Mallya giving the Red Bull’s and the Ferrari a run for their money.
This is what would be Force India’s biggest achievement in the last 6 years it has been in F1.