Greater Noida: Force India boss Vijay Mallya said on Saturday that the government should offer necessary support to the Indian Grand Prix and ensure that the annual event stays at the BIC.

“I will appeal to the government to see what goes on in other parts of the world, where local governments actually support the sport. But in India, it is going to be very difficult to persuade the government because of the unique nature of the country and its problems,” Mallya said.

“The government should not interfere or become an obstacle. The government should be a facilitator. If private enterprise is taking the responsibility of hosting the event, the government should encourage it.

“The benefits of bringing F1 to any country, including India are enormous. It provides visibility and exposure which translates into tourism,” Mallya added. Mallya also introduced Force India academy driver, 16-year-old Jehan Daruvala, as the next big driver in Indian motorsport. Mallya said he wanted to nurture Daruvala just the way McLaren nurtured Lewis Hamilton. He recently won the competitive British Karting Championship with two podium finishes in Shenington, UK.