Mallya's ticket to F1

In the last three years, UB honcho Vijay Mallya has started an airline, bought a controlling stake in another, bought out a Scotch Whiskey maker and now he has put in a bid to buyout a Formula 1 team, Spyker.

Owned by a small Dutch car maker of the same name, Spyker is a Formula 1 laggard of late and has changed ownership and names twice since Eddie Jordan sold out the then Jordan team in 2003.

UB's Mallya: In the fast lane

A UB spokesperson confirmed the deal but clarified that the offer "was in front of the Spyker board and they are yet to take a decision."

Kingfisher Airlines is already a sponsor of the Toyota f1 Racing team, and how the Spyker buy will affect the relationship is unclear. If the deal goes through, Mallya would probably sign up Indian drivers such as Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandok. Given the lack of racing infrastructure in India, is Mallya jumping the gun by aiming for the top?