Force India F1 team to become Aston Martin (2nd Update)
He said, "We're still discussing. In the short term, meaning 2016, I don't see that type of rebranding happening. But you never know what the future holds thereafter."
Force India's co-Owner and Principal Vijay Mallya, the liquor baron, said last October that the team was "discussing a potential three-way deal involving the British sports car marque and whisky brand Johnny Walker."
The agreement "would have seen the British-based team transformed in name and look to feature the Aston Martin branding."
Szafnauer said that F1 "had an appeal to Aston Martin but more with an eye for the future."
He said, "If it now happens in the long term, is there disappointment? Probably not." Reuters
12/17/15 This rumor is downgraded to 'speculation' today. Aston Martin looks set to shelve for now its plans to enter formula one with Force India.
Team owner Vijay Mallya had admitted during October's Mexican GP weekend that rumors linking Force India with a potential naming sponsorship deal with the British luxury car manufacturer were true.
"We are in discussion," he said, but "nothing has been finalized".
And former two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen had said a few days later: "The Aston Martin brand fits very well with formula one, so I hope this actually does happen."
But a source has now told Sky News that, following a board meeting, the partly Daimler-owned Aston Martin appears set to walk away from a deal.
"There is a definite inclination not to do it — in 2016, at least. But it could certainly be revisited in the future," the source said.
10/30/15 The Force India Formula 1 team is closing on a deal to be rebranded as Aston Martin Racing next season, Autosport rumors.
It previously discussed a return to F1 in a tie-up with Red Bull as well as holding talks with Williams and Force India, before ultimately deciding to focus on Force India.
Speaking to Autosport, Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said: "If tomorrow someone comes and offers me a good sum of money for title sponsorship, I'll seek the team name.
"If the marque comes along and I have to change the team name, I have to look at what it does for the team in terms of profile.
"It's premature to talk about it now, but we're talking.
"Nothing is done until it's done. I don't like to count my chickens until they are hatched."