Force India's point-scoring streak came to an abrupt end in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday with Adrian Sutil finishing 11th while his team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi retired after an opening lap brake problem.
Force India driver Adrian Sutil made it to the third qualifying session (Q3) once again and will start the Chinese Grand Prix 10th, while Karun Chandhok of Hispania will begin from the back of the grid.
Indian racing ace Karun Chandhok is keen on joining Malaysian outfit Lotus Racing for the 2011 season so that he can contribute in Asia's emergence as a force in the "West dominated" Formula One circuit.
Force India's Adrian Sutil was seventh in the first practice session before he returned to clock the 10th fastest time in the afternoon while Hispania driver Karun Chandhok got some long runs under his belt before Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.
Karun Chandhok is well aware of the monumental task ahead in his rookie Formula One season after he was thrown in at the deep end in a Hispania car devoid of pre-season testing.
After his Bahrain debut ended inside two laps, India's Karun Chandhok reckons finishing the race at the Australian Grand Prix would be a strong result for his rookie F1 outfit.
Karun Chandhok's truncated Formula One debut last weekend was tougher than he expected and the Indian driver admits his Hispania (HRT) team faces a long, hard season.
After a hiatus of five years, Narain Karthikeyan is all set to make his long-awaited comeback in the Formula One circuit after he earned a race driver's seat with the Hispania Racing Team (HRT) for the 2011 F1 season.
Chandhok, who will be only the second Indian to race in Formula One after Narain Karthikeyan in 2005, will make his debut on Sunday with less experience behind the wheel of his car than any driver in recent memory. Until Saturday's first knockout qualifying session, he had not even driven it out of a garage, let alone around a corner or down a straight.
Karun Chandhok on Thursday ended India's long wait to see its second Formula One driver and Narain Karthikeyan, the first man to do it for the country, has wished the youngster good luck.
Set to rub shoulders with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, Karun Chandhok said it feels surreal to have finally become India's second Formula One driver.
Karun Chandhok will test with GP2 teams in Abu Dhabi this weekend while still hoping for a return to Formula One next year in time for his country's first Grand Prix.
Mahindra Racing will enter the new Formula E electric racing series next year with ex-Formula One racer Karun Chandhok set to drive for what will be the only Indian team on the grid.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances