Chandhok confident of grid place

Reuters - Wed, 11 Nov 16:28:00 2009

India's Karun Chandhok says he has a real chance of racing in Formula One next year after talks with all the new teams due to enter.

2007 Driver Profile: Chandhok - 0

"My father, our sponsors, advisors and I have been quite busy at following the driver market in F1 and making sure we're talking to the right people," the 25-year-old Chennai-born driver told his personal website.

"But it's a very complicated time in F1 with a lot of unknowns.

"We've met with all the new teams and some of the existing ones to explore options for 2010.

"At the moment, I would say there are still three very realistic possibilities to race in Formula One next year but I don't think anything will be public for a few more weeks."

F1 is due to expand from the 10 teams this year to 13 teams in 2010, despite the departure of Toyota and BMW-Sauber.

Of the new teams, only Spain's Campos Meta has so far named a driver - Chandhok's former GP2 team-mate, Brazilian Bruno Senna.

"Of the 26 pieces in the F1 driver puzzle there are only maybe 10 that are in place so there's still a lot up in the air and I am still optimistic that something will work out," said Chandhok, who has won two races in GP2 and tested for Red Bull's F1 team in 2007.

Silverstone-based Force India, owned by Indian tycoon and family friend Vijay Mallya, has given Chandhok time in the McLaren simulator as part of an agreement with that team.

Swiss-born racer Neel Jani, who has an Indian father, has also been observed.

Force India have yet to confirm their 2010 line-up but are expected to stick with Germany's Adrian Sutil and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, who was the reserve until compatriot Giancarlo Fisichella went to Ferrari in September.

The team will be taking part in young driver testing in Spain in December and that could be an opportunity for Chandhok to try out their car. A Force India spokeswoman said nothing had been decided, however.

India's only F1 driver to date was Narain Karthikeyan with Jordan in 2005.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 12 of 12

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  1. the guy cant even look straight!

    From bwakanangtite, on Thu 12 Nov 4:03AM

  2. If Chandhok, just an average driver in the GP2, is­ given a racing seat next season, this spells such a­ lower driver standards that F1 has become. Only money­ rules, not talent and skill. I'm glad that VJ­ Mallay is not subscribing to that.

    From ferraribeng, on Thu 12 Nov 2:02AM

  3. #3: Jon,

    You are right... Super licence are given­ after there is evidence that drivers had accumulated­ certain amoung of experience in an F1 car. Teams used­ to put young drivers in the test to accumulate mileage­ and assess their ability. After that, they will apply­ for their super licence if they want to put them into­ racing.

    However, it appeares that FIA and teams no­ longer do that. They just grant lieence to young­ drivers who have no experience (may not have­ sufficient) on F1 cars. Examples are Romain Grosjean,­ Alguersuari Jaime and Kamui Kobayashi. These drivers,­ basically had none or insignificant amount of­ experience on an F1 cars, but super licence is granted­ based probably their lower formulae experience. Is that­ good enough? Even Luca Badoer, he had been absense from­ F1 racing (maybe other form of racing) for a dacade, he­ was given a super licence too, and he performed­ badly.

    Maybe, just maybe that's the reason why­ there were so many racing incidences. I can see why­ Trulli is so upset with all the recent racing­ incidences and one of them involved him. Whatever­ gentlemen agreement made in the GPDA meeting long ago­ do not involved the young generation of drivers now.­ So, do we expect them to honour it? Not at all.

    From ferraribeng, on Thu 12 Nov 2:00AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Itta superb a toa see that a THREE a QUARTERS offa F1 a­ fans believe a that a the BRILLIANT a LEWIS a HAMILTON­ ASUN will a do a better than a the a "new" a­ Barrichello a bumfluff a Button a next a season....­

    The a F1 site a POLL a SAYS a SO......­ yyyyyyyyeeeeessssss.......

    From a dick a head a potter, on Wed 11 Nov 11:19PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Itta superb a toa see that a THREE a QUARTERS offa F1 a­ fans believe a that a the BRILLIANT a LEWIS a HAMILTON­ ASUN will a do a better than a the a "new" a­ Barrichello a bumfluff a Button a next a season....­

    The a F1 site a POLL a SAYS a SO......­ yyyyyyyyeeeeessssss.......

    From a dick a head a potter, on Wed 11 Nov 11:19PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ok a six a six,, you a say a vettel a need toa beat a­ many a champions inna abu dhabi toa match a King a­ Schuy
    inna 12 a years ,,,there a only a 2 a champions­ toa beat inna abu dhabi a alonso anda mr a hamilton­ asun a Fact,,,
    when a mr a hamilton asun a win a hes a­ Fake a title there was a field ofa nobodys toa race a­ against a other than a Alonso,,,Fact
    Vettel a anda­ Kimi anda brawn a only a come a good a over the a past­ a few a years,,Fact
    King a Schuyy a hada much a more­ experienced a drivers anda champions a toa compete a­ against a when hea win a hes a titles,, Fact,,,
    itta­ much a easier a toa win a titles a this a day offa age­ ,,a lots ofa inexperienced a drivers ,,alots ofa­ constant a changes ,,,,anda lots anda lots ofa more a­ cheating ,,Fact,,
    itta was a lot a harder inna King a­ Schuyys a day toa win a title,,,FACT!!!!

    From Potter Snr, on Wed 11 Nov 10:06PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    itta make a mea laugh,,, a ok a 1 a could a say a king­ a Schuyy a cheat a once a ora twice a buta that a still­ a leave a 5 a titles a hea won a genuinely ,,,inna fact­ a hea could anda should a have a won a few a more a­ titles a soa total a could ofa been a 9 ora 10 a­ titles,,,buta when itta mr a hamilton asun a whoa cheat­ a fora hes a 1 a title a mr a hamilton asun a fans a­ never a admit it. Iffa you a point a the a cheating a­ finger atta King a Schuyy
    a then itta must a be a­ pointed atta mr a hamilton asun anda McCheats a they­ are a bigger a cheats a by the a mile...everyone a no a­ they a cheated,,, KING SCHUYYYY F1 KING hes a record a­ never bea matched a Ever!!!

    From Potter Snr, on Wed 11 Nov 9:23PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    itta make a mea laugh,,, a ok a 1 a could a say a king­ a Schuyy a cheat a once a ora twice a buta that a still­ a leave a 5 a titles a hea won a genuinely ,,,inna fact­ a hea could anda should a have a won a few a more a­ titles a soa total a could ofa been a 9 ora 10 a­ titles,,,buta when itta mr a hamilton asun a whoa cheat­ a fora hes a 1 a title a mr a hamilton asun a fans a­ never a admit it. Iffa you a point a the a cheating a­ finger atta King a Schuyy
    a then itta must a be a­ pointed atta mr a hamilton asun anda McCheats a they­ are a bigger a cheats a by the a mile...everyone a no a­ they a cheated,,, KING SCHUYYYY F1 KING hes a record a­ never bea matched a Ever!!!

    From Potter Snr, on Wed 11 Nov 9:23PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Chandock looks like he's in the process of having a­ fist stuck up his ar se,....probably POTTER'S or­ Harleyboy's I reckon.

    From a dick a head a potter, on Wed 11 Nov 8:32PM

  10. There needs to be new 'blood' bought into the­ racing fraternity, and it really doesn't matter­ where from, Europe, India, the States or Asia, what­ really matters is that they have the innate ability to­ control the car at high speed. I think I read somewhere­ that a super licence required testing to a set­ standard (if I'm wrong please tell me) before a­ driver was allowed to sit on the grid.
    I'd imagine­ that all the teams will require the driver(s) to reach­ a certain standard too, they wouldn't want a­ potential snail sitting in their car causing sponsors­ to complain or even withdraw funding.

    From Jon, on Wed 11 Nov 6:45PM

  11. Who was the last bonk eyed f1 driver,... maybe this guy­ IF he get's a drive, I just hope we don't end­ up with a grid full of inexperienced kids next season,­ there should be some kind of newbie pre season testing­ in some kind of 'control' car so teams cant­ test parts and aero, just for driver development so we­ don't have anymore bordais or algusuari's, poor­ @#$% never had a chance.

    From clean2day, on Wed 11 Nov 5:51PM

  12. Please guys, pick by reason of ability, not sponsorship­ or nationality (some hope!). If Chandhok is good­ enough, he deserves his chance. If not, give it to­ someone who does. Let us have the 26 (or 24!) best guys­ out there in 2010!

    From markrose260, on Wed 11 Nov 5:17PM
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