Force India terminate deal with Ferrari

(CNN) -- Force India, who used Ferrari engines for their first season in Formula One, have agreed a termination of their 2009 contract with the Italian constructor.

The team, owned by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, signed a contract last year which technically ran until 2009 -- but have decided to end it early.

"The Force India Formula One Team has announced that it has ended its contract with Ferrari," confirmed a team statement.

"Force India wishes to thank Ferrari for its much appreciated and valued support to date, which has always been carried out at the highest level -- technically and professionally and within an excellent relationship," the team added.

Ferrari confirmed the scrapping of the deal. "We agreed with Force India to end the technical collaboration agreement between the two teams ahead of schedule."

Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said the team would have a new management structure. "We have come a long way this season, but we need more and that requires some radical reorganization of the management structure to ensure maximum productivity," Mallya said. "It has become clear that Force India requires greater performance accountability."

The team are now expected to hook-up with Mercedes for the new season in some way, although its engine supplier has not yet been revealed for the new season.

Force India, formerly the Spyker team, scored no points in the 2008 world championship season and their cars -- driven by Germany's Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy -- regularly finished at the back of the grid following the withdrawal of the Super Aguri team.