Szafnauer could have left Force India during administration

Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer turned down the opportunity to leave in the summer when Force India, at the time, fell into administration.

Szafnauer was chief operating officer at Force India, which went into administration earlier this year, until it was eventually saved by Lawrence Stroll, and renamed Racing Point.

Stroll and his consortium then named Szafnauer team principal and CEO of the side, but he revealed to Autosport that he had the opportunity to leave the side during their financial struggles.

"I had other opportunities but it's tough for me to say 'stick together' and then I leave," Szafnauer said. "It would be very hypocritical to do that. I never entertained the thought of going somewhere else unless this, for sure, wasn't going to go forward.

"I'd rather be known as the guy who performed a little bit like Captain Sully (Chelsey Sullenberger) on the flight that landed in the Hudson rather than the guy (Francesco Schettino) who was on the Costa Concordia that tipped over the Med - he was the first off the ship.

"I don't like that, better to stick with it. In the end it was the right decision."

Stroll has big plans for Racing Point next season, with big ambition, and has also signed his son, Lance Stroll, from Williams - who is replacing Esteban Ocon to drive alongside Sergio Perez for 2019.