Force India unhappy with new space devoted to driver's name

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Force India is discontent with a new rule imposed by the FIA and which could cost the team potential millions in sponsorship revenue.

To help fans indentify more easily their favorite drivers, the governing body decided at a Strategy Group meeting in Paris earlier this week that from Barcelona next month, a driver's name and race number will have to appear much bigger on their car.

The FIA has now explained that the driver's name - or three-letter abbreviation - must be at least 15cm high, with the number measuring 23cm.

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But Force India is unhappy with the decision, believing the prominent spot on a car's bodywork devoted to a driver's name could be sold to sponsors.

"Where we have to put the names, we could have sold those spaces to sponsors," team manager Andy Stevenson told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Stevenson underlined one particular prime piece of real estate - the sidepod.

"The name there with the prescribed size would be worth $6 million."

So Force India is proposing that teams be allowed to put the name closer to the floor of the car, because "This space is never sold".

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.