In an interview with the BBC World Service, Force India owner Vijay Mallya has again confirmed that his team will retain its 2008 line-up, despite speculation that the new partnership with McLaren-Mercedes effectively sees the Silverstone-based squad become the Woking outfit's B-team.

"In Giancarlo, Adrian and Tonio we have a wonderful balance between experience and ambition and now complete consistency," he said, referring to Giancarlo Fisichella, Adrian Sutil and test driver Tonio Liuzzi. "I firmly believe that next year will be a huge opportunity for the team."

As Honda seeks a new buyer and F1 holds its breath lest another manufacturer should follow the Japanese giant out of the sport, there is natural concern over the (relative) minnows, and even though Mallya is a multi-billionaire his team falls into this category.

"Clearly one has to be concerned about what is happening in the world today," he said. "Honda's withdrawal was not a shock to me as I could well imagine that on one hand with global sales and profits under pressure, the first thing that any independent board member would say is 'what are you doing with a Formula One team?'

"It's unfortunate but true that we have to cut our costs and live in the real world and balance both income and expenditure," he continued. "From the sponsor's side as well, people are cutting down budgets, so it's not going to be very easy to get anyone to write out large cheques for sponsorship either.

"Force India is in a good enough position, it's a smaller team with a much smaller budget than the big boys and so it is probably relatively easier for us to manage under these circumstances."

Looking ahead to 2009, when the McLaren-Mercedes partnership, not to mention a raft of new rules aimed at levelling the field, Mallya remain confident that fans will see a marked improvement in his team.

"I certainly hope to be up to a midfield in 2009 given all that we are doing and I would be disappointed if we are not, so that is a major step forward to begin with."