Formula One rookie Karun Chandhok has dismissed speculation about his status at cash-strapped HRT and made clear that he is keen to be part of the team’s plans for the future.
Media reports in India suggested recently that the Chennai-born driver’s place at the grid newcomers could be in jeopardy because of a lack of funding.
“There is so much speculation and I don’t know if it is being started by other drivers who are trying to get in or whatever,” Chandhok told Reuters on a visit to Silverstone at the weekend.
“Three weeks ago (Brazilian) team mate Bruno (Senna) was the one. All over the internet it was ‘Bruno’s out and so and so is coming in with money’ and this week it seems to be my turn,” he added.
“As far as I know I am in Valencia (this weekend’s European Grand Prix in Spain), I am in the car and I am in for the rest of the season.”
Chandhok has been placed in six of his eight races this season, albeit well behind the leaders, whereas Senna has finished only twice.
The 26-year-old, who lives near Silverstone and was up at the British Grand Prix circuit to watch the weekend’s MotoGP action on a new layout, is only the second Indian to compete in Formula One after groundbreaker Narain Karthikeyan.
Next year, with an Indian Grand Prix scheduled for New Delhi, he hopes to become the first to compete in front of his home supporters. In his dreams it would be with Silverstone-based Force India, owned by billionaire Vijay Mallya, but HRT will still be Chandhok’s first point of call in contract negotiations. — Reuters