FIA explains decision to continue Force India PU allocations

The FIA has confirmed its decision to make Force India continue with its prior power unit allocations despite technically entering the Formula 1 world championship as a new entry from this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

Following the sale of the team's assets and its exit from administration, Force India was required to gain permission from F1's stakeholders to re-enter the championship as a new entry called Racing Point Force India starting at Spa.

All of the team's points scored so far this season have been wiped away, leaving it at the bottom of the constructors' standings on zero points ahead of this weekend's race.

Team principal Otmar Szafnauer confirmed on Friday that F1 race director Charlie Whiting had informed Force India its existing drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, would have to continue with their existing power unit and gearbox allocations for the season despite suggestions they may receive a fresh raft of parts as the team is a new entry.

The stewards at Spa issued a statement on Saturday morning explaining the decision given the "unusual" nature of the situation that arose following the mid-season entry.

"The Stewards note that the matter of the number of power unit elements and gearboxes needs to be settled, in that the current regulations do not appear to take into account the highly unusual situation where a team is excluded mid-season and a new team effectively 'replaces' it, and the drivers move from the former team to the new team," the statement reads.

"The question arises 'do the power unit elements and gearbox numbers accumulated to date by the excluded Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team carry over to the new Racing Point Force India F1 Team or do they revert to zero for each of the drivers?'

"The Stewards note their responsibility under Article 11.9.1 of the International Sporting Code where they have supreme authority for the enforcement of the Code, which under Article 1.1.1 requires the fundamental principles of '...fairness'. Article 11.9.2.a of the Code empowers the Stewards to settle any matter which might arise during an event.

"The Stewards consider that as the drivers have retained their respective points accumulated to date in the 2018 Events in the Championship it is both logical and fair, that the elements, units and gearboxes used by their respective cars in the excluded team, should carry forward to the new team.

"Accordingly, we decide that the numbers of power unit elements and gearboxes referred to in Article 23 of the Sporting Regulations and used to date in 2018 by Sahara Force India Formula 1 Team shall carry forward to Racing Point Force India F1 Team. It is noted that the Team Principal of Racing Point Force India F1 Team publicly expressed his prior agreement with this."