Robert Fernley has dismissed rumours linking Mexican businessman Carlos Slim with a takeover move for the Sahara Force India team.
Billionaire Slim, who provides backing to Sergio Perez within the team as well as to reserve driver Alfonso Celis Jr, had been linked to buying the team from Dr Vijay Mallya, but those rumours have no foundation according to Deputy Team Principal Fernley.
“It was the first I knew about it!” said Fernley to Motorsport.com. “There’s no truth in that rumour at all, there are no discussions going on with Carlos Slim re buying the team.
“I don’t think that’s the philosophy that Carlos works with when bringing through drivers, he wants the freedom to do whatever he feels is appropriate for the drivers.”
Perez’s future at the team has been up in the air in recent weeks, but it looks increasingly likely that the Mexican will remain as Nico Hülkenberg’s team-mate into 2017, although he has been linked to moves to both the Williams Martini Racing and Renault Sport F1 teams.
