INDIAN Formula One fans should be proud of their own team rather than bemoaning the lack of homegrown talent on the starting grid, Force India’s flamboyant owner Vijay Mallya has told reporters.
“To be criticised, largely by the Indian folks, that I don’t have an Indian driver is I think just blatantly unfair,” he said.
“My only response to them would be that I know more about Formula One than they do.
“As far as the existing Indian drivers in Formula One are concerned, I can only feel very sorry for them. They are getting drives by the teams who clearly can’t compete…,” added Mallya, whose current drivers are German Adrian Sutil and Britain’s Paul Di Resta.
In Turkey last May there were, for the first time, two Indian drivers out on track together in Friday practice but Sunday (July 10)’s British Grand Prix starting grid at Silverstone had none.
Narain Karthikeyan was dropped by Hispania to make way for Red Bull-backed Australian debutant Daniel Ricciardo, although the Indian should be back for his country’s inaugural grand prix in Delhi at the end of October.
Karun Chandhok, racing with Hispania last season, is now reduced to occasional Friday drives as a reserve for Team Lotus.
“If that’s what they want to do, drive a Formula One car for the sake of driving a Formula One car and winding up at the back, I can’t do anything about it,” said Mallya.
“There has got to be good, raw talent in India and I am determined to go find it.”
Mallya pointed out that British Grand Prix winners Ferrari, the most successful team in Formula One and the pride of Italy, had not had a regular Italian driver for years.
The last Italian to win the Formula One title was Alberto Ascari in 1953.
“If Ferrari is on the podium, the whole of Italy applauds. If Ferrari wins a race, the whole of Italy celebrates. Nobody ever asks the question of where is the Italian driver?” said Mallya.
“Why suddenly in India? Be thankful for the fact you have an Indian team, sporting the Indian colours on the grid to begin with. The Indian driver will follow but let’s not put the cart before the horse.”
