In a recent interview, , the former owner of the Force India Formula One team, shared insights into his decision to prioritize national pride over personal branding when naming the team. He revealed that while he had the opportunity to christen the team "Mallya F1," he chose "Force India" to ensure the Indian flag was represented on the global motorsport stage.
Mallya, who co-founded Force India in 2007 after acquiring the Spyker F1 team, emphasized his desire to showcase India in Formula One. He stated, "I could have easily named it Mallya Formula One, like Williams Formula One, for instance. (But) I wanted the Indian flag to be on the grid." This decision was rooted in his aspiration to bring Indian representation to the forefront of international racing.
Under Mallya's leadership, Force India achieved notable success, including a podium finish at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix and multiple top-five finishes in the Constructors' Championship. The team's performance helped elevate India's presence in the sport.
However, financial challenges and legal issues led to the team's entry into administration in 2018. Subsequently, a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll acquired the team's assets, rebranding it as Racing Point and later as Aston Martin F1 Team.
Mallya's reflections highlight the significance of national identity in global sports and his commitment to promoting India on the world stage. Despite the team's eventual transformation, the legacy of Force India remains a testament to his vision of integrating Indian pride into Formula One.
Vijay Mallya Reveals Why He Signed Virat Kohli For RCB Before IPL 2008 Auction; Video
From a fresh-faced teenager picked at a base price of ₹12 lakh to becoming the highest-paid and most iconic player in franchise history, Virat Kohli’s journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is nothing short of legendary. In a recent conversation on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Mallya opened up about how he handpicked Virat Kohli ahead of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, following the youngster’s impressive run at the ICC U-19 World Cup, which he won as captain.
He said, "Shortly before the actual selection process, they were playing the U-19 World Cup, and I was very impressed with him. So, I picked him, and it's wonderful, 18 years later, he is still there. He was a young kid at that time when I got him, but you know, full of energy, great talent, and you know, one of the greatest Indian cricketers ever."
Unlike senior players who entered the 2008 IPL auction, India’s Under-19 World Cup players were drafted separately in a pre-season selection. Kohli, despite hailing from Delhi, wasn’t picked by Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), who chose Pradeep Sangwan instead. That decision allowed RCB to bring Kohli into their setup an acquisition that would go on to build a legacy for himself.
