Karun Chandhok is popular with Bernie Ecclestone but is he ready for F1?
10th September 2009, 10:41 by Keith Collantine 85 Comments »
Karun Chandhok is in his third season of GP2
Bernie Ecclestone has told the Indian press that he wanted Karun Chandhok to take Giancarlo Fisichella’s place at Force India instead of Vitantonio Liuzzi.
Chandhok is the most likely driver to succeed Narain Karthikeyan as India’s next F1 driver. But is he ready for a step up to the top level?
Chandhok is in this third season of GP2 and is racing for the Ocean Technology team run by Karthikeyan’s former Jordan team mate Tiago Monteiro.
It’s been a year of mixed results for him so far. There have been points finishes and a podium at Silverstone. Chandhok should have won the sprint race at Monte-Carlo, but his car broke down while he was leading.
But other retirements have been self-inflicted and on a number of occasions Chandhok simply hasn’t figured at the front of the field, particularly in the Istanbul and Hungaroring rounds.
Last year, driving for iSport, he struggled to match team mate Bruno Senna – the Brazilian took second in the drivers’ championship with 64 points, Chandhok was tenth with 31 with a single win in the reverse-grid race at the Hockenheimring. This was his second GP2 victory, the first coming at Istanbul the year before.
The native of Madras might not get into F1 on the strength of his CV alone, but with the most powerful man in F1 backing his cause you have to fancy his chances.
Chandhok’s father Vicky is the former president of the former president of the Federation of Motor Sports in India and a friend of Bernie Ecclestone’s.
With Force India scoring a breakthrough result at Spa, an Indian Grand Prix on the calendar in 2011 (politics permitting) and an Indian investment firm looking at putting money into the former BMW team, F1 is beginning to take a foothold in the world’s second most populous nation. It’s no surprise Ecclestone wants to help it along by getting another Indian driver in F1.
Is Chandhok the man for the job? Are there other Indian drivers in the junior formulae who look like better prospects? Have your say in the comments.
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Steph90 said on 10th September 2009, 10:49
Chandhok should get the drive because he’s good enough not because of nationality, if he can’t be a star in GP2 how can he expect to be in F1? He could just end up being another Nakajima-backed by the people with power and the business side, not wanted by the teams and simply there to appeal to a wider audience.
Nitpicker said on 10th September 2009, 13:08
I agree. Before Bernie piped up, I hadn’t heard of this Chandhok guy.
Joaqo (Max should resign now!!!) said on 10th September 2009, 16:00
Couldn’t agree more.
Nirupam said on 10th September 2009, 10:49
I am not sure whether Karun has it in him or not, but definitely he can do better than Karthikeyan!
Next in line may be Armaan Ibrahim (Currently running in F2). Though still he has to show true potential
James_mc said on 10th September 2009, 11:55
Karthikayen made Yoong look like a superstar.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 12:03
Yes i agree, he’s a playstation pilot. He got a chance in 2005 cuz he brought in lots of money to the struggling Jordan. One must remember that E.Jordan has sold off his stake at the end of 2004, if he were at the helm, I’m sure kartheyekeiyan wouldn’t have got a sniff of that seat.
bananaman said on 10th September 2009, 20:05
I beg to differ. Karthikeyan was not F1 material, but he was far from a joke, which Yoong was. Yoong failed to qualify within 107% so many times that he was replaced by Davidson mid-season, who managed to qualify at both times of asking. Yoong’s erstwhile team-mate Webber, who is no Senna/Schumacher/insert your favourite WDC’s name here, was miles ahead of him.
Facts said on 10th September 2009, 14:55
Have you followed Karthikeyan’s career through Junior Formulae and Non-F1 series?
As someone else has pointed out correctly his aggressive style of driving was not suitable to ill-handling undeveloped car.
For all the monies that he brought to team in form of personal sponsorship, didn’t give him a single upgrade on car through the season, and he was essentially running a year old car, only other team with similar woes on the grid was Cash strapped Minardi.
He was performing better than his team-mate in 2005 season, till the point his mentor Trevor Carlin walked out of Jordon Endevor, after what I suspect management in-fight with Collen Colles.
He has performed well in A1GP, and Le Mans , where he qualified car well inspite of not much experience with the car. It was shame that freak accident prevented him to participate in the race, where his team mates built on his quali efforts to give good results to the team.
British engineers who have worked with him, Sato and Button in Junior Level rated Sato, Him and Button in that orders when it came to raw speed and ability to setup car and provide technical feedback to the engineers.
Alas, the Japanese and Indian didn’t have a Savvy manager and PR to publicize so called “Smooth Driving Style” the luxury that the Brit had
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 15:04
But a certain Portuguese by the name tiago Monterio beat him fair & square at indy 05 by securing a podium.
Facts said on 10th September 2009, 15:25
Read response above – That was after Colles tookover the team operation after shunting Trevor Carlin. First weekend Colles tookover the team operations his first press release bad-mouthing NK made it clear that new management was leaning towards Tiago and his inspid driving and Karthikeyan’s days in F1 were numbered.
Any driver can’t succeed without a) good car b) good strategy and most important c)honest management support.
Can you imagine the scenario if McLaren Management had lambasted Hamilton in Press on the Brazil’07, Fuji’08 and Monaco/Nurburing’09 blunders. Not to mention his out of turn outburst in Monaco’07 was covered by Macca Management. Thats the difference between success and faliure (or read accolade and lambast by ignorant fans) in F1.
Praveen Titus said on 11th September 2009, 8:47
Narain has oodles of raw talent, and only someone totally blind can even put him in the same league as Alex Yoong.
“British engineers who have worked with him, Sato and Button in Junior Level rated Sato, Him and Button in that orders when it came to raw speed and ability to setup car and provide technical feedback to the engineers.”
Facts is right. Narain finished 6th in his first ever Formula Nippon race in appalling conditions in 2001, a year after he dominated the F3 races at Macau (though he crashed out from the lead)and Korea for Trevor Carlin. Anyone can notice that whenever he’s been with the Carlin squad in British F3 (scoring his first win in 1999 and finishing 6th in the championship in his first full year in the series) and World Series (finishing 4th in the championship in 2003 after being 2nd in the standings for nearly the whole season), he has performed well. His dominant win at Brands Hatch in the 2007-08 A1GP season finale and his consistent peformance in the Le Mans Series this year prove that he is really one of the most skilled racing drivers in the world. Had the cirumstances been right in the Midland squad he could have scaled greater heights in F1, as his test driving stint with Williams proved.
But that’s not how an F1 driver should be. He should be able to perform in all circumstances. In British F3 in 2000 with Jackie Stewart’s team, he was already complaining that the team was giving better equipment to his team-mate Tomas Scheckter. In an interview with Autocar India Stewart said that the problem with Narain is his attitude, not talent. He just isn’t bent on winning all the time (pointing to the difference between Michael and Ralf Schumacher) and resorts to making excuses. That, apart from his aggressive driving style, should account for his fall from grace.
Pete said on 9th March 2010, 15:56
So called? Have you ever watched Button’s steering through a series of corners while he’s lapping at race leader pace? Hardly any sawing back and forth of the steering wheel at all. There’s more to a successful F1 driver than “raw speed”. I’m not a Brit and I’m not a McClaren fan either but Button definately has a smooth, tyre friendly driving style. Sato was just freekin’ eratic!
Johnnie Siggie said on 10th September 2009, 10:53
I’d rather not see an indian driver if he is gonna be last like papa Luca
Pete said on 9th March 2010, 16:09
Hahahaha…yeah I agree. Looks like Bernie went for the ratings potential on this one. Do you think he’s bank rolled this guy’s sudden rise to F1 status in the hope of massive media coverage in India? I’d love to have been a fly on the wall during the meetings between Bernie, the team and Chandhok. Do you think Chandhok actually got to say more than “hello Mr Ecclestone”? I doubt it.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 11:15
India does not need its version Nelson Piquet Jr. I think he’s not ready yet. And Bernie must not be doing this. He shouldn’t be recommending people, is he an agent or something? If every thing turns out proper for Chandhok its fine, but if he ends up like Luca or PK, the gormless Indian media will brand him useless. Goes on to show that formula one is something much more that a sport. And Chandhok isn’t exactly setting tracks on fire in GP2, is he? I would be only wise for him to find a testing seat somewhere before actually racing.
James_mc said on 10th September 2009, 12:34
Bernie has always recommended people to come in/return to F1.
Martin said on 11th September 2009, 1:07
Bernie reccommending someone is by no certain term a great endorsement. If Bernie wants someone in the sport there is probably a monetary reason behind it for Bernie.
Pete said on 9th March 2010, 16:16
Yep.
Tiomkin said on 10th September 2009, 11:18
Drivers should be picked on merit, not nationality. This ‘racist’ attitude is beginning to creep into the sport and should be closely monitored.
Kovy said on 10th September 2009, 11:26
Just what I was about to say.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 11:55
We must pick more Aussies to balance out this problem
Kovy?
Bigbadderboom said on 10th September 2009, 12:10
It’s not racist it’s purely commercial, if Bernie could have his way the drivers crown would have to be passed around each year just to boost each countries figures. Money is money to Bernie he doesn’t care where it comes from.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 12:31
I’m sorry, but i feel this is racist. Ever since Mr Obama took over, we’ve seen this trend reversing.Innocent white people are being targeted unnecessarily. Chindook has been racing in Gp2 for 3 years, but all he’s got to show is 2 lucky victories. Berine is a dishonest man .All it will do is to damage karun’s reputation. Bernie wants to make some quick buck before he’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. That is why he’s pushing for an Indian driver & GP.
Nirupam said on 10th September 2009, 13:05
@mp4-19b
That means you have agreed what used to happen before “Mr Obama took over”!
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 13:12
@ Nirupam
Yes. I agree. Innocent black people were put to shame in the past, which was not good at all. So some section of that community are hell bent upon taking revenge, which again is bad. But Mr Obama is endorsing this. very sad.
Martin said on 11th September 2009, 1:08
spot on
Hairs said on 5th March 2010, 13:13
I had no idea Obama was involved in F1 management. Bernie won’t be pleased there’s another rooster in the henhouse.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 11:24
I would like to know how exactly has Chandhok managed to get into the good books of Bernie? There are drivers much more experienced & talented than Chandhok that are waiting in the queue. But Singles out Carun. Why?
Kovy said on 10th September 2009, 11:27
Money.
Bernie gets money from GP ticket sales, among other things. India will hold a race in 2011.
Chandhok is Indian, Force India is an Indian team, if they were together it would draw more people to watch the Indian GP in 2011.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 11:51
It sounds nice & everything, but is it realistic ? Delhi, the alleged site of the f1 track is supposed to hold the commonwealth games next year, but much of the construction work is stalled & rumors are that the games might get moved else where. majority of the construction in Delhi is flawed. They authorities over there flaunt safety standards perfectly
just take a look at this video . They are not able to safely build flyovers & metro, how can someone expect Indians to construct a modern formula one track that adheres to international safety standards? just have a look at this Indian road!
Look at how traffic is managed here!! Yet Bernie wants a indian Gp. Very funny
Arun Srini said on 10th September 2009, 12:42
Its all money dude!! Don’t you get it? See the interest in big companies , ex sellers of beauty products like Loreal etc, India is one big market, and with good tickle, like Force India becoming a front runner, you’d be screamin your tongue out in Delhi, not writing these columns. Already cricket has been damaged by t20 now, F1 would be a great entertainer,
Charlie said on 10th September 2009, 12:51
Incidentally I was in India last year. Their roads are terrible. On the “motorways” (if you can call them that) you constantly drive in the fast lane. Why? Because you have lorries coming the other direction in the slow lane. LORRIES. Why? Because there are no junctions to allow then to turn right (they drive on the left).
India has the worst road safety record of any country.
I look forward to seeing F1 there…
Charlie said on 10th September 2009, 12:47
Yes, India is in a complete mess in terms of infrastructure and politics, unlike, say, China.
I’d be surprised if they will be ready for 2011. It will make Donnington look like, erm, China?
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 13:45
What a sadistic thought. You want another 1994 imola or something? that would permanently damage India’s reputation. That is why I’m telling Bernie mustn’t rush for a GP now. Maybe in a decade’s time everything would be put into order. I hope so.
Pete said on 9th March 2010, 16:21
Ticket sales? Try TV ratings.
Sampaio said on 10th September 2009, 11:35
You forgot to say that Chandhok has been regularly beaten by his teammate, Álvaro Parente, who already won a race in Spa-Francorchamps. I would probably say that Parente has more chances to get in F1 than Chandhok. But then, Parente is portuguese and I am portuguese!
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 11:59
Vasco da Gama discovered India, you must be blaming him not Chandock
gospeedracer said on 10th September 2009, 13:39
“discovered”?? It was always there. Indian history goes back 9000 years. The First County of Portugal, Condado de Portucale, was formed in 868 AD during the Reconquista.
Sampaio said on 11th September 2009, 1:33
Of course it was always there. And in portuguese history we don’t say Gama discovered India. In fact, he discovered the naval (by sea) path to India, which is a different thing!
But it was after Vasco da Gama’s arrival that India get really opened to the ocidental world. In a matter of 200 years you had portuguese, spanish, dutch, english people all over India, Indonesia, Japan. And by then, the power of the western countries was far more than the Eastern ones. In the second expedition Gama made to India, he knocked out Calcuta just by firing the cannons he had in his ships. It’s a rather interesting story, how a small country like Portugal had the naval supremacy in the Indian ocean between the XV and the XVI centuries, when they just had some 20 large ships.
Sampaio said on 11th September 2009, 1:37
I made a mistake! It’s not Calcuta (founded in 1690 by the english), but Calicute. My mistake
catinthebag said on 10th September 2009, 13:53
I think you’d find that it’s the Indians that discovered India. And that’s if you call waking up somewhere eher you always were ‘discovering’.
Prisoner Monkeys said on 10th September 2009, 11:47
He’s not ready. Give him another season or two, then see how he plays out. In the meantime, give a drive to Vitaly Petrov instead. Senna and Maldonado wuld also be good choices, espeically if the proposal for resrrecting the Argentine Grand Prix goes ahead.
Pete said on 9th March 2010, 16:29
He’s already 26yo. I don’t think another season or two will do the trick. Try a talent implant…much more likely to succeed. Maybe he could ask Michael S where he got his talent form and get some of the same.
Bigbadderboom said on 10th September 2009, 12:14
Bernie’s up to his old exploitation tactics, his is blatently trying to influence the Indian government into backing and financing an event. He knows that just by having a driver he can drum up some public interest which will put pressure onto the decision makers.
Come dance with Bernie Karun, he will lead you a merry dance and ruin your career. Your not ready and a failed F1 career will do more damage than good.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 12:33
Exactly!
Robert McKay said on 10th September 2009, 12:36
I’m sure he’ll be suggesting us a Chinese driver as well, soon enough.
Sod driver ability, soon we’ll just have grids determined by “population of nation multiplied by average wage/spending power” tables, if Bernie gets his way.
KNF said on 10th September 2009, 14:09
Ho Pin Tung??? I’m not sure about his ability though…
Current Asian drivers in the upper echelons of motorsport are usually wealthy or well connected (or both!!!), no chance of a bricklayer’s or pub bouncer’s son in Asia ever being able to afford competitive karting, let alone single seaters…
Alex T said on 10th September 2009, 14:36
Hmm let me look at the current F1 grid, how many brick layers sons out there.. NONE. Everybody started on their parents monies and then found good personal sponsor to fund their Motorsports dream!!!
Agileracer said on 10th September 2009, 15:44
Hamilton in fact is Sr Hamilton’s investment for happy retirement in Bahamas
. Systematic breeding and nurture LOL
OfficialSwen said on 10th September 2009, 12:36
Anupam and James mc: Karthikeyan didn’t lack the speed – he just was too aggressive in a car that was a backmarker. He would have fared better if he had driven a better handling car.
ajokay said on 10th September 2009, 12:50
What is the point of being an F1 test/reserve driver these days?
Luca gets shafted for Michael, then gets just as quickly replaced by Giancarlo.
Giancarlo’s FI departure leaves a seat open for ‘Tonio, but Bernie wants to rush a no-name/results Indian driver into an Indian (in name only) team as a ploy to get another country with incredibly minimal interest in F1 to send more than 7 people to fill up the grandstands of their new track come 2011.
I don’t even remember Karthikeyan, but then there have been so many rooke drivers joining the F1 ranks and then being booted out after 1 season in the 2000′s that their names become a jumble on a pile of young rejects who have been invited to do 200mph before they can walk.
No he’s not ready, and if his stellar results card is anything to go by, he never shall be.
Best of luck at the weekend ‘Tonio. Go for it!
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 13:05
I agree on all the points you make, except this:-
You’ll be surprised to find out that some of the most well informed fans are from India. Actually there is a huge fans base in the urban areas. Some of the fans are better informed that the “American F1 Fan”, if there are some left at all
Here is the proof . The point that I’m trying to make is India is not yet ready to host a GP cuz they have a dumb govt. Look at Finland, they’ve had 3 WDC & don’t host a race. Why? I really have no clue.
Martin said on 11th September 2009, 1:17
Becuase it is cold as hell in finland..joking of course. They probably dont see the advantage in having it.
PJA said on 10th September 2009, 13:04
Have to agree with most of the previous comments, Bernie is only suggesting him because Chandhok is Indian and Bernie wants to boost F1 in India and so make more money. Judging from his results he doesn’t stand a chance of getting into F1 if they were the only factor.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 13:36
Some hot news here.
mp4-19b said on 10th September 2009, 13:39
Ooh! A private deceive agency is called to investigate this. Has anything like this happened before?
Lutz said on 10th September 2009, 16:40
here are some other news relating that subject:
Basically it says that Nelson won’t be by the FIA because he was the one who came forward with the “thruth”.
Just like those mafia trial moves, if you f**k your boss(es) we won’t f**k you
Lutz said on 10th September 2009, 16:42
damn the links…
Lutz said on 10th September 2009, 16:47
sorry for the mess..
the ticle says Nelson Jr will not be PUNISHED by the FIA
Lutz said on 10th September 2009, 16:47
sorry for the mess..
the article says Nelson Jr will not be PUNISHED by the FIA
YeaMon said on 10th September 2009, 13:51
I know Bernie wants and Indian driver and Chandhok could be ready for a seat. Regardless Bernie needs to keep his nose out of the teams affairs. He referred to Liuzzi as “that Italian guy.” This man doesn’t even know the name of a driver who was recently in F1 and has been a test driver. Maybe when he shows some respect for the teams, drivers, fans, and F1 entirely maybe the teams will start listening to his opinions and thoughts.