Force India to Change Logo, New Name for USF1

Formula One Management – the body led by F1 supreme Bernie Ecclestone – has asked some of the teams in the series (one of which is to debut in the championship next year) to change their official names/logos. The teams affected by the new changes are the newly-formed USF1 and Force India.

According to news agency GMM, the all-American outfit that will enter Formula 1 in 2010 was urged to change its name, as its current designation uses the “F1” abbreviation. Therefore, the organization launched by Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor will make the 2010 grid as USGPE (US Grand Prix Engineering).

In the cases of Renault, Toyota and Force India – also using the “F1” title – the FOM has argued that they are not affected by the change because the aforementioned term is succeeded by the word “Team”. Williams are the only team in the F1 paddock to use the designation WilliamsF1.

Force India F1 Team will not change their name in 2009, but they will have to make some changes to their official logo. As commented upon by the FOM, the “I” mark from the “FI” (Force India) resembles the number “1”. Due to the confusion it may arose – as team's official logo could be mistaken by “F1” – Vijay Mallya was asked to change his outfit's logo for 2009.

The Indian outfit has just presented the large public with their brand new VJM02 car for 2009, last Saturday – along with the logo, color scheme and livery.