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2019 will be the first season in which Force India won't be competing in F1 since 2007. The Silverstone-based team came into Formula 1 after Vijay Mallya's acquisition of Spyker. They enjoyed much success given their small budget, however, much like their owner, they are no longer a part of the pinnacle of motorsport.
A consortium led by Lawrence Stroll (the father of former Williams' driver, Lance Stroll, who's now part of the Silverstone-based team) bought the team part-way through 2018, and have chosen to rename it to Racing Point for the 2019 season.
While the staff are largely the same, the era for Formula 1's only ever Indian team is over. Here's a rundown of their five best moments in F1.
#5 Continued improvement
It's hard to believe that it took over a year for Force India to score their first points in Formula 1, thanks in part to this being a time when only the top eight received points. More on that particular race later, but the Silverstone outfit have improved on their constructor's results consistently, only 2012, and 2018 bringing a lower placing than the previous year. The last one was in part due to their points disqualification, they would've finished in fifth without it.
Another thing that should be noted is that Force India chose their racing drivers based on their ability, not their financial backing. Yes, Sergio Perez brings a huge amount of money to the team, but he's also a great driver, claiming five podiums in as many years for the team that last raced in pink. That looks too out the window with the arrival of the new owners, however, with Lance Stroll being in effect promoted to the team for 2019, despite another poor season in 2018.
#4 Consistent success
In four of the last five years of Force India's time in Formula 1, the team had a driver (Perez) on the podium at least once a season. Their wise choice to have Mercedes engines in an era when they have consistently produced the most powerful and reliable power unit on the grid paid off.
The effect of a more powerful engine is being diminished each year, as the aerodynamic grip is becoming more important. 2016 was arguably their best year, achieving more than one podium for what is still the only time in their history.
They were also "best of the rest" in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, beating the financial might of Renault, McLaren and Williams to the unofficial title two seasons in a row. Had they not gone into administration in 2018, they could've even got a hat-trick of "titles" in 2018, but it wasn't to be.
#3 Punching above their weight
It's been reported that, after the demise of the Manor team after the 2016 season, Force India have been the outfit with the least funding. When you consider that Williams have had just one win in the last 14 seasons and McLaren haven't had a top 3 finish since 2014, Force India's success is something that's remarkable.
Perhaps their most impressive feat was their 2016 double podium campaign (with podiums at both the Monaco and Russian Grands Prix) and the 2017 season points haul, which is still their highest tally ever.
If Racing Point can continue this impressive streak, their owners will be very impressed indeed, especially with the rise of Renault and Sauber - now Alfa Romeo Racing - predicted for 2019 and beyond.
Who knows what this year will bring, though, but we could get a good idea at the unveiling of the as yet unnamed 2019 challenger.
#2 Most recent Podium
Sergio Perez and Giancarlo Fisichella are the only men to have stood on the podium in Force India overalls, and they have a combined six for the Indian outfit. They have consistently out-performed what was expected of them, and that was never more evident than at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are currently commonly referred to as "The Top 3 teams" and those three manufacturers claimed 62 of the 63 podium places on offer throughout the 2018 season.
Who claimed the 63rd and final podium? None other than "Checo" Perez of Force India. The Mexican is arguably the most underrated driver currently racing in Formula 1, as he has scored podiums consistently but still not earned a drive with a top team after he struggled at McLaren in 2013. Podiums came for the Mexican at both Sauber and Force India, but he's still based in Silverstone with the team that was born out of Spyker.
#1 First Points, Pole and Podium
As mentioned in number 5, it took over a year for Force India to claim their first Formula 1 points. 29 races to be exact, more than one and half seasons at the time. For most teams, the three above achievements are completed at different times. However, Force India defy the odds yet again, claiming two of these three at the same time, after the third was claimed the previous day.
Giancarlo Fisichella incredibly qualified on pole on Saturday, and got a decent start, although he surrendered the lead to Kimi Raikkonen on the fifth lap. Raikkonen's Ferrari possessed KERS, which meant that the Finn was too fast on the straights for the Force India to overtake the red car.
This though, was one of the most surprising results ever, and the team's most impressive. 2009 brought just one more points finish, Adrian Sutil's impressive fourth at Italy, their second and final top-eight finish in 2009.
What do you think was Force India's most impressive moment in Formula 1? Let us know in the comments below!
