Mallaya banking on diffuser for a better show

“At the end of the day the diffuser is a huge advantage. It definitely has an impact on the pace otherwise teams like Renault and Ferrari wouldn’t have approached the FIA,” said Mallya.

However,Mallya assured that work on the diffuser is in progress and an interim one would be in place at next week’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

“We will have an interim diffuser in place for the next race. But that will give us only 50 per cent of what we want to achieve. For a full effect on the diffuser,we will have to wait for Monaco,” said Mallya,who also owns the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the Indian Premier League.

He also shared a similar opinion on KERS – Kinetic Energy Recovery System – that has teams’ views divided. “KERS is still at an experimental stage. It is helping some teams and not so for others. Force India cars are equipped for KERS and we will have it in place in Monaco,” Mallya said.

“By then we will come up with a good package. Our race pace is good and with the diffuser on,it is going to be better.”

He also said that work is in progress on the front wheel,suspension and aeronautical updates.

“If by mid-season we have our entire package in place,then we will be competitive like we did in Melbourne,” said Mallya,who also sponsors the East Bengal and Mohun Bagan teams in the I-League.

Asked whether he might consider promoting any other sport after football,cricket and Formula One,Mallya said,”Enough.”

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the way sports is run in the country. “I am sorry for sports in general in India. There’s a problem with the whole attitude and approach of the administrators. They must let professionals handle sports,that way India can achieve a lot.”