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Bernie Ecclestone has expressed his disappointment with Force India owner Vijay Mallya’s decision to overlook Indian driver Karun Chandhok in favour of Tonio Liuzzi for the vacant seat at the team.
With Mallya last week agreeing to release Giancarlo Fisichella to Ferrari so the Italian veteran could realise his career dream of driving for his country’s iconic team, the Indian tycoon promoted the team’s test driver Liuzzi to drive alongside Adrian Sutil for the remainder of the season.
However, while the move was widely expected given former Toro Rosso driver Liuzzi had been itching to return to a race seat following two seasons on the testing bench, Formula 1 supremo Ecclestone says he would have preferred Mallya to have given his GP2 countryman Chandhok the opportunity. ITV
“I was hoping Vijay would give Karun a chance,” Ecclestone said.
“I’m a little disappointed that he has put the Italian guy in.”
“Whether he has to do this by contract I don’t know, but I’d have liked to see Karun in the car for the rest of the season.”
Ecclestone’s criticism of Mallya’s choice of driver comes after India’s sports minister Manohar Singh Gill dubbed F1 as “expensive entertainment” rather than a sport, after denying funding for the inaugural Indian grand prix in January, which is due to take place in 2011. InTheNews.co.uk
Ecclestone feels an Indian’s presence in the cockpit will help in the build-up for the proposed 2011 race in India.
“We need to get Karun in the Formula 1 car quickly,” he said. “And he has got the talent and the ability, so it’s a case of somebody just getting on and doing it now.”
On whether Chandhok — who competes in GP2 series, a notch below FI — is ready, Ecclestone said, “We haven’t seen him in a Formula 1 car to know but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t perform.” Hindustan Times
