Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer insists that Vijay Mallya's financial troubles are not impacting on the team's operations, despite news from India that the team owner's passport has been revoked.
Mallya told the Financial Times that he is in "forced exile" in the UK as he faces increasing pressure from banks in India to repay hundreds of millions of pounds worth of debt related to the defunct Kingfisher Airlines. A warrant has been issued for his arrest by an Indian court, but Mallya insists he is keen to reach a settlement with the banks.
"I definitely would like to return to India," he said. "Right now, things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport has been revoked, I don't know what the government is going to do next, but I have always maintained, notwithstanding anything else, I am interested in a settlement with the Kingfisher Airline bankers and would like to repeat that I will reach out if they are interested in making a settlement."
Mallya owns a 42.5 percent share in the Force India F1 team, with a further 42.5 percent owned by the Sahara Group's Subrata Roy, who has been in jail since 2014 following financial troubles of his own. But team COO Szafnauer insists the issues being faced by Mallya will not have a big impact on the way the team is run.
"Well, we're all used to seeing Vijay at the circuits, but he has many business interests and at the factory he used to come at Christmas time and also around Silverstone, so from that regard, from an operational standpoint I don't think it has a big impact on the team," he said. "I know he's working hard with the Indian government to resolve his issues and hopefully soon we'll see back at the races."