Sahara Force India Chief Operating Officer Otmar Szafnauer is still hopeful that a partnership with Aston Martin can go ahead, possibly as soon as 2017.
The two parties were in talks last year but could not come to an agreement for 2016, but Szafnauer still has hopes that a deal can be reached to bring the legendary Aston Martin name back to Formula 1 with the Silverstone-based outfit.
“It was just for 2016 we won’t be collaborating,” said Szafnauer. “But we will have further discussions later on with Aston to see if there is a possibility for future years.
“For 2017 there is still a possibility and the door is still open. We will reconvene again and see if there is any possibility for the future.
“There were just some decision-making points that were unknown at that time. And they just needed more time to see what the sport was doing about the engine and some other things.
“They need to have some of those answers before they can make that decision of entering Formula 1 or not. And only time would give them those answers.”
