Force India managing director Vijay Mallya took a dig at Bernie Ecclestone, blaming the former F1 supremo for the team's lack of new sponsors.
The Silverstone-based outfit has proved the most cost-effective for its commercial partners, finishing fourth in the Constructors' standings despite its limited budget.
The team can fortunately rely on its base-pool of sponsors this season as new money was very difficult to attract, and Mallya explained why.
"If the boss of Formula 1 says publicly that the sport is crap, what do you expect?"
The Indian businessman was referring to Ecclestone's public comments made in 2015 about the sport's state of affairs and dwindling audience numbers.
"Which sponsor wants to enter a business that speaks like that about itself? Bernie put off many sponsors with his comments, and those who did come went to the rights holders.
"FOM and the teams were competing for sponsors," he continued. "Liberty Media seems to have a different approach, so let's see what changes."
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