Fernley: Williams vetoed our request for money advance

Apparently, the competition between Formula 1 teams is as tough off-track as it is on track as Williams proved by vetoing an advance payment request made by Force India and thus forcing the team to source required funding for the season.

Deputy team principal Bob Fernley revealed to Auto Bild that when he requested a financial advance from Liberty Media – a common request from teams – on the back of their 2017 income, they were blocked,

He explained, “For that to happen we needed the unanimous approval of the other teams, but Williams decided to veto.”

“The next four weeks will decide if we will survive. I will have to raise a lot of money in a short amount of time. I have a plan that could work in the next two to three weeks,” added Fernley.

Last year Force India were the standout team in terms of bang-for-buck, finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship with the smallest budget on the grid.

They also have the constant uncertainty surrounding the future of their beleaguered owner Vijay Mallya whose legal wrangles keep him United Kingdom bound.

It was also a well below par start to the new season for the team in pink at the Australian Grand Prix, they seldom anywhere to the ‘Best of the Rest’ pace they enjoyed late last year.

Perhaps their only comfort is that at last year’s opener they also scored no points, but thereafter their season ignited.

Big Question: Should Formula 1 teams have the right to veto cash advances by Liberty Media to rival teams?