Mallya 'deserves more credit' for Force India

Fernley first met the Indian businessman in 1982, when he assisted in the purchase and then the running of an Ensign F1 car that Mallya drove to victory in that year's Madras Grand Prix.

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Since Mallya bought the ex-Jordan team, then competing as Spyker, in September 2007 and rebranded it Force India in 2008, the squad has risen from 10th in the world championship to its current fourth.

While Mallya has been criticised in some quarters for his business dealings and rumours have often circulated about the possibility of pulling support from Force India, Fernley underlined how important his involvement has been.

"Yes, he deserves a lot of credit," Fernley told Autosport when asked if Mallya didn't get the credit he deserves for the success.

"Vijay celebrates 10 years in Formula 1 next year. There are not many individual team owners that have been around for 10 years and he continues to support it.

"That's fundamentally where it [the reason for the team's rise] is.

"I don't think it's any magic, it's just about consistency, attention to detail and good people."

While beating Williams to fourth in the constructors' championship gives the team a financial boost, with the difference between the 'column 2' prize money paid based on the 2015 season for fourth and fifth being $3million, Fernley stressed the key is the boost to the team's enthusiasm.

"It's really the moral boost," said Fernley.

"What it does is endorses what the team has been doing for the last three or four years.

"You can never underestimate the enthusiasm this will drive through the team and [help] bring it to the next stage.

"While it's nice to have the extra funding coming in, that is incidental to the enthusiasm it will put in and the commitment it will deliver for 2017."

Fernley also paid tribute to the calibre of the staff at Force India, describing working for the Silverstone-based team as a difficult option because of the responsibility each person must carry.

"Working for Force India is not an easy option and it's not for everybody," said Fernley.

"You often get people coming to you and saying, 'I want this responsibility' and we love to give that because it's not about dictating, it's about doing it as a team.

"But with responsibility comes accountability and a lot of people don't necessarily want that bit and therefore you've got to be a strong character.

"It exposes your weaknesses, whereas in a bigger organisation you can cover it up.

"We have people that genuinely want to progress and are prepared to take the risks are responsibilities that go with it.

"That's part of the drive that has brought Force India to where it is today."