It’s exciting times for Racing Point right now. The Silverstone-based team were saved from extinction and rebranded last summer, following a cash injection from billionaire Lawrence Stroll and are now set for a major car upgrade before the summer break as well as a brand-new factory... Racing Point’s current factory was built ahead of the Jordan team’s debut back in 1991, and while other teams have invested in bigger and more modern facilities to house growing staff, the team that evolved into Midland, Spyker and then Force India have made do with the same building.

Stroll’s ownership of the team, and the funds that he is making available, has allowed them to at last put plans in place to expand their facilities. They have revealed plans for a building that, they say, “will not be extravagant, but fit for purpose”. That efficient approach is in keeping with the racers’ ethos that has been part of the squad through their various iterations. “It definitely shows a good potential and is a solid move,” said Racing Point's Sergio Perez of the new factory, which will remain in Silverstone, close to the famous Northamptonshire circuit. “The team is in the best position it has ever been. These things take time but [the plan for the new factory] is really encouraging. It’s nice to see that the future is looking bright for the team.”