Force India ends engine contract with Ferrari

NEW DELHI: Force India ended its collaboration with engine supplier Ferrari on Friday earlier than expected so it can switch to Mercedes for the 2009 Formula One season.

Last year's agreement with Ferrari "will now terminate ahead of schedule at the request of Force India," the team said in a statement. Ferrari confirmed the end of the deal. Force India said it expected soon to conclude a deal with McLaren-Mercedes.

Team owner Vijay Mallya Bought the Spyker team last year, and this year was Force India's first full-time in F1. However, drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil ended the season without any points.

Mallya said the team will have a new management structure after releasing team principal Colin Kolles and chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne on Friday. Mallya said he will become team principal.

``We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganization of the management structure to ensure maximum productivity,'' Mallya said. ``It has become clear that Force India requires greater performance accountability.''

The team said it had had an excellent relationship with Ferrari. ``Force India wishes to thank Ferrari for its much appreciated and valued support to date, which has always been carried out at the highest level, technically and professionally,'' the team said.