Williams vetoes prize money advance to Force India

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley is working overtime to secure the team's full budget for 2018, but a request for an advance on income has been blocked by Williams.

With an estimated budget of approximately £97 million, Force India is one of the smallest teams on the grid, but also one of the most effective as its fourth place in the Constructors' standings secured in the past two years has demonstrated.

Rumors of the team's impending sale to an obscure British energy drinks company were wide of the mark, and Force India will remain in the hands of current owner Vijay Mallya for the foreseeable future.

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The Silverstone-based outfit has yet to top-off its 2018 budget, according to Fernley.

"I will have to raise a lot of money in a short amount of time," he was quoted by Germany's Auto Bild.

To facilitate Force India's state of affairs in the short term, Fernley requested from Liberty Media an advance on the team's 2017 income, a fairly frequent demand each year on the part of F1's smaller outfits.

Unanimous agreement among the teams is required however, and one the Grovbased squad allegedly blocked Force India's request.

"For that we always need the approval of the other teams, and this time Williams has put in the veto," said Fernley.

"I have a plan that could work in the next two to three weeks," he added.

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