Name change likely around the corner for Force India

Force India will likely undergo a change of identity before the season kicks off in Melbourne according to reports.

The Silverstone-based outfit initiated a name change last year with the purpose of offering a more global appeal to sponsors.

The team launched its new VJM-11in the Barcelona pitlane this morning and featured a distinct reduction in branding on team personnel and garage signage.

"There's a high probability that it will happen before the first race of this year," COO Otmar Szafnauer told Motorsport.com.

"We're still working on it, we still haven't quite pinpointed what the name change will be, but we always said there will be a name change coming.

"The deadline is coming close, and like anything, the closer you get to a deadline the harder you work to make sure it happens."

• Still pretty in pink - Force India unveils its VJM11

Various monikers and domain names have been put to consideration to Force India's board of directors which is closing in on a final designation.

"It's one of those things that doesn't happen every day, so you've got to get it right, so you might as well take your time as opposed to doing it early – because it's going to be for a long time," added Szafnauer.

"There's a few stakeholders in this, the guys who own the place, potential sponsors in the future, FOM, so you've got to align all that before you pull the trigger.

"If it doesn't happen by Australia, there's always next year. It will be a good thing to do earlier rather than later, but like I said, getting it right is more important than the timing, because it's going to be there for a long time. I don't think you change your name every year.

"Everyone's got an opinion on it, and until we all come to the same opinion, you still kind of talk about it, and if there's no timing pressure, you still talk about."

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