Like any other super successful business tycoon, Vijay Mallya wants returns - and wants them fast. No wonder, he lost his patience last year with two of his prize acquisitions in sport, the Force India Formula One team and the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the IPL, and did not mince words to make his sentiments known.
While Royal Challengers, under a new and more aggressive captain in Kevin Pietersen can still deliver the goods, one is afraid that patience has to be the watchword when it comes to the cut throat, unforgiving world of Formula One. To that extent, it's been a good start for the Force India team in the season-opening Melbourne GP and there are now chances that the first points (a top eight finish) may not be that far away.
Unlike last year when the Force India duo struggled to finish its races with one mechanical fault or the other, Adrian Sutil finished a creditable ninth with the veteran Giancarlo Fisichella coming in at 11th at the Albert Park in Melbourne. More importantly, the team management has expressed its satisfaction with the reliability factor of the cars and Mallya himself has gone on record that they needed to fine-tune the aerodynamics of their machines a bit more before the elusive points start to show against Force India's name in the standings.
What's more, India's answer to the high-flying Richard Branson (who has also made his foray in the fast lane with Brawn GP) now seems to be setting more realistic goals for his team.
Mallya is not expecting much from the Malaysian GP this weekend but by the time the circuit heads towards Europe in Barcelona in October, he wants to see a tangible improvement in the aerodynamics of the cars so that they become more competitive.
While Brawn GP's success in their debut race in Melbourne had been nothing short of dramatic, the various cost-cutting measures and streamlining of cars this season may make it a more level playing field for smaller teams like Force India.
Thanks to the convenient television timings and globalisation of the sport, F-1 had been quite a rage with the speed-loving Gen-next in India for some years now.
If only 'Force' can create a niche for itself on the circuit, its brand building can open up lot more business opportunities in India and also create the right environment when the event goes there in near future!
