Chandhok blames ‘finance’ for F1 struggle

(GMM) Karun Chandhok, an Indian driver currently racing in GP2, says a lack of corporate dollars is keeping him from making the final step into formula one.

Despite his countryman Vijay Mallya running the Force India operation, the Indian billionaire for a second consecutive season will field a German and Italian driver combination, even though Indians Chandhok, 25, and Narain Karthikeyan, throng the international racing scene.

"Finance is one thing," said Chandhok, who has previously tested for Red Bull Racing.

"For a formula one drive, you are looking at 10-15 million dollars. That's a significant amount of money when you convert it into rupees," he said in Delhi during a sponsor press conference.

Chandhok also believes the departure from the scene of the Honda-powered Honda and Super Aguri teams has complicated the task for F1 hopefuls.

"Like I said it is four less seats, which has made it more difficult," he confirmed.

He refused to criticize Mallya for so far failing to hire an Indian driver.

"This is something which only Vijay Mallya can answer. It's his team.

"He has had a contract with Fisichella which is only for two years," Chandhok said. "And it is a commonly known fact that Sutil comes with a fairly good financial package and that explains it."