F1: all change at Force India with a new name, driver and season targets

Force India will temporarily be known as the Racing Point Formula 1 Team before confirming a new identity ahead of the 2019 season.

After going into administration in August Force India were taken over by a consortium backed by Canadian billionaire businessman Lawrence Stroll.

The team were known as Racing Point Force India for the remainder of the 2018 campaign but Autosport reports that the new Racing Point title will only be used as a temporary measure.

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Team principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “It is just a place holder to indicate future change which will take place and be announced before the 2019 season.”

Last week Lawrence Stroll’s son Lance made his long-awaited move from Williams to Racing Point. The 20-year-old will line up on the 2019 grid alongside teammate Sergio Perez of Mexico.

With the drivers now in place Lawrence Stroll has given the team a target of breaking into the top three of the F1 championship standings, PlanetF1.com reports.

Speaking in Brazil last month Stroll said: “With the right funding, the right leadership, the right motivation, there’s no reason we shouldn’t have high expectations. [We should] be able to punch even higher above our weight, to hopefully be fighting for that third place.”

2019 F1 team names, drivers and numbers

With Lance Stroll moving to Racing Point the 2019 F1 driver grid was confirmed last week.

Racing Point’s name change is not the only one for next season. F1.com reports that Ferrari will officially be known as Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow while Haas will be known as Rich Energy Haas F1 Team.

The driver numbers for next season have also been confirmed except for Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon.