Force India has dismissed the latest claim that a British energy drink company is seeking to buy the team.

Although, on paper, it would not appear to have the necessary funding to purchase an F1 team, let alone continue to run it at its current standard, for some time Rich Energy and its boss William Storey have been linked with a potential buy-out of Force India.

Over the weekend, just days after the team’s co-owner Vijay Mallya stepped down as a director, the Daily Telegraph claimed that a formal offer was made for the team in April, and that a deal is imminent.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Storey said: "In light of ill-informed media speculation and certain external moves to destabilise the team, I can confirm that Rich Energy made an official offer to buy Force India Formula 1 team at the end of April.

"This offer was accepted in principle, and we are close to finalising purchase with SPA," he added, referring to the sales and purchase agreement.

"We have deposited funds considerably in excess of the purchase price and will invest an additional eight-figure amount in the team," he added.

"We have a long-term business plan that not only involves our beverage brand but two multi-national corporate sponsors who are not currently in F1. We have found the shareholders to be excellent people with the team's and employees' best interests at heart.

"We aim to conclude a deal as soon as practicable and the lawyers approve."

While Force India has previously said little on the matter, other than a brief official denial in late February, deputy team principal Bob Fernley was quick to react to the latest claim.

"It's no secret that they've been interested, but so have other people," he told Motorsport.com. "There's nothing moved forward yet to my knowledge. We've not been instructed about anything yet. At the end of the day all those issues are dealt with by the shareholders, they're not a team issue, so we don't have any involvement in it at all."

The denial comes just days after Mallya denied that his stepping down as a director of the team was the first sign of an imminent buy-out.

"Rumours keep going on and on and on, and people talk and talk and talk," he told Motorsport.com. "That's what the F1 paddock is all about.

"The finances of Force India, whether I'm selling or not selling, has been a matter of speculation on and off for many years," he continued. "We don't go around with a 'for sale' sign.

"The bottom line is that we are focussing on getting the best performance out of the car, and that is our priority. We're focussing on getting more sponsors. There are three shareholders, remember, I'm not the only one. If somebody comes along with a serious offer, and puts cash on the table, we will jointly consider it."

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