Force India has confirmed that its 2015 contender, the VJM08, will not run until the second of the forthcoming tests at Barcelona.

The confirmation follows weeks of speculation and the team's own admission that the car was unlikely to run at the opening test at the Circuit de Catalunya which gets underway next Thursday.

Other than the fact that this means the car will get just four days running before taking to the track in Melbourne two weeks later, the news comes amidst mounting speculation as to why the car has been delayed.

Whilst deputy team principal Bob Fernley has cited an issue involving Caterham's booking of the Toyota windtunnel as part of the problem, an excuse which has caused raised eyebrows in the paddock, he also claims that his team has been hurt by cash-flow problems as suppliers "hurt very badly by the Marussia and Caterham demises" wanted money up front.

Then there is the saga of the team's owners, Vijay Mallya and Subrata Roy, the former under pressure from a consortium of mainly state-owned Indian banks seeking more than $1bn loaned to his failed Kingfisher Airlines, whilst the latter is currently in jail in New Delhi following a court order for his Sahara Group to pay back billions of dollars that were invested in illegal bonds.

What is it about F1 that attracts these people?

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1. Posted by Joop deBruin, 14/02/2015 3:44

"The answer to the question of how they will survive is to fire the current drivers, install "world class, highly skilled" Indian drivers at 98% less pay, and no ability to move to another team.

That's the model of India in the USA & UK for tech workers that brings do much cash back home..."

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2. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 13/02/2015 20:38

"Could this be karma from their cynical refusal to allow Marussia's use of the '14 car coming so soon to bite them in the ****?"

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3. Posted by GordonW, 13/02/2015 18:48

""What is it about F1 that attracts these people?"

More money than sense - "let's throw money at the problem, that will fix it" (hence the stupid costs of running a modern Formula One team).

It's rather like the downward spiral in which English football finds itself - Sky and BT have just coughed up over five BILLION pounds for the rights for three future years - and there's not even any technology involved in kicking an inflated pig's bladder around a field....

So how about certain "sports" sort themselves out and detach themselves from venture capitalists (CVC + Ecclestone, the Glazer family etc.) and just get on with each delivering a good spectacle to their respective fans - at a sensible price? The loss of certain "races" from the Formula One calendar that are there for purely egotistical reasons would be a good start - and then we could perhaps return to exciting racing on circuits that are interesting and where genuine fans can actually visit...."

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4. Posted by Tony B Liar, 13/02/2015 17:52

"Q: "What is it about F1 that attracts these people?"
A: MONEY.
It's the same in all sports that generate loads of money. Look at football; populated by a bunch of near-do-wells, bunko artists and dodgy characters.
Oh hang on, I've just described Messrs Eccelstone and Briatorie haven't I!!!! "

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5. Posted by Hondawho?, 13/02/2015 16:59

"As a follow on to my last post, and in relation to the subject matter of Farce India, I think the picture above can more or less some up what "these people " are like LOL!"

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6. Posted by Hondawho?, 13/02/2015 16:41

"As mentioned above "What is it about F1 that attracts these people?"

I suggest you do not get carried away with your own feelings and thinking its only F1. The attraction has been going on for years with "these people" but with modern communication we now ALL hear about it in more detail on sites such as these.

I suspect you could write a book on "these people', I am sure Mr Mike Lawrence will be able to answer the question or even write a book or three about it! "

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Force India confirms VJM08 delayed until final test

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