Force India to miss out on $4.7m in sponsorship

The Force India F1 team looks set to miss out on almost 5 million dollars (just under 3 million pounds) in damage after the Court of Appeal in the UK ruled that Etihad Airways and Aldar were entitled to end their sponsorship deals with the Silverstone-based outfit.

Both Abu Dhabi companies had signed a three-year agreement with the team in 2007, albeit when it was known as the Spyker F1 team. Following the purchase of the team by Dr Vijay Mallya and re-named Force India neither were consulted and the court ruled this gave them the right to walk away.

Force India has now been ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings, while the matter has also been referred back to the Queen's Bench Division. Etihad Airways and Aldar could both be awarded damages.