Vijay Mallya has denied any suggestion that his Formula One team and Cricket team are simply ‘hobbies’.
The Indian billionaire owns the Force India outfit as well as the IPL team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore along with his main businesses, Kingfisher Airlines and the United Breweries Group.
“It is certainly not a hobby,” he told the BBC. “F1 and cricket are part and parcel of our business tools for promotion, and are sports in which, not only I am interested, but in which India is hugely interested.”
He is under no illusions that climbing up the grid isn’t something that can be achieved overnight, but recognises the fact his Silverstone based outfit, formerly Spyker, has come along way since he bought them back in 2007.
“F1 is perhaps the most technically competitive sport in the world. You are no longer fighting for half a second, you are fighting for one-hundredth of a second,” he explained.
“It has become a lot more competitive so it is very difficult to move up the ladder quickly.
“I am proud that the Force India F1 team, from the end of 2007 when I bought the team, to today, it has come a long way.”
The 55-year-old also hinted that rumours regarding the teams driver line-up for 2011 season, which could see Paul di Resta partner Adrian Sutil, may be true, admitting their were some loose ends to tie up – likely in regards to Tonio Liuzzi’s contract.
“There are some legal loose ends to be tied up,” but he confirmed a decision would be “made within the next few days.”
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