Race car driver Narain Karthikeyan has denied ever wanting to join Force India and has criticised the team’s boss, Vijay Mallya, for even suggesting it.
Karthikeyan, who drives in the A1 GP, hit back, saying: “I spent a frustrating time with Jordan, where I had a car that just could not perform. I have no desire to be with another pedestrian team that’s low on performance and loud on talk.”
Force India part-owner Vijay Mallya’s assertion that neither of the two pioneer racing drivers from India — Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok — are good enough for F1 or his team has elicited incredulous reactions from those who really know their racing.
“The time is getting closer for F1 to be in India, which is something I am really enthusiastic about, and hopefully Karun will be part of it. His place is in F1,” Ecclestone said, scuttling Mallya’s question mark on his ability.
James Roberts, senior correspondent, F1 Racing magazine adds: “Narain was abnormally brave in his ability to stay committed in high-speed corners in that Jordan car. Over one lap he may actually be even quicker than (Giancarlo) Fisichella (present Force India number one driver). Karun is a great talent. I am surprised at what Mallya has said.”
Karthikeyan says he still wants to get back to Formula One, but not at any price.
“Spyker (the predecesor to Force India) offered me a drive in August 2007. I declined as the team was going nowhere,” he said. “Except in F1, where machine matters more than man, I have won races in every championship that I have participated in.”
Indian billionaire Mallya bought into the Spyker team last year and renamed it Force India. He told the newspaper recently that neither Karthikeyan nor the country’s next hope Karun Chandhok were good enough for his team.
Force India failed to score a point in its first season and confirmed this month that Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and German Adrian Sutil will race for them again in 2009.
“I never even approached Mallya. The vibes from the camp have been extremely negative and I want to make it clear that I am not interested in driving for Force India,” Karthikeyan said.
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