Spyker will be renamed as the Force India Formula One team next season, new owner Vijay Mallya said on Saturday.

The flamboyant Indian billionaire, who bought the team this month with Dutch businessman Michiel Mol, said at the Brazilian Grand Prix that he had asked the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) for approval.
"We have applied to the FIA for a change in name of the company and the team from Spyker to Force India," he said. "I think that sums it all up as to why I am here. "I believe that there will be a huge surge of support for this team once we present it as the Force India team. "Having an Indian-owned Formula One team on the grid was something that was considered completely out of reach before. This reflects the new India and new ecomomic prosperity," he added.

If approved, the name change will be the third since 2005, when Silverstone-based Jordan was sold to Midland. Midland became Spyker last year after being taken over by the asiling Dutch luxury sportscar maker.

Mallya expected the management of the team, who have scored just one point this season, to stay the same and he was determined to keep highly rated German rookie driver Adrian Sutil as well. The team logo will be in the colours of the Indian flag but an Indian driver was less of an immediate priority.