Karthikeyan: F1 is complicated but I would like to remain with HRT
17 July, 2012
Narain Karthikeyan on the grid before the start of the Chinese GP
Jul.17 (GMM) Narain Karthikeyan insists that he does not regret sticking with F1 backmarker HRT, despite being ousted by the formerly Colin Kolles-led outfit last year but rehired by its new management for the 2012 season.
However, his return got off to the worst-possible start in March when both he and teammate Pedro de la Rosa failed to qualify in Australia.
“It was a low point as I never thought I would be a spectator in Melbourne,” Karthikeyan, 35, told the Deccan Chronicle newspaper.
“But I never regretted the decision to continue with HRT,” he insisted. “The team used to work like a GP2 outfit, but a change in the management has showed that they belong in Formula One.”
Indeed, the now Luis Perez-Sala-led Spanish outfit looks set to overtake rival Marussia at the back of the field, but Karthikeyan’s progress has been less steady, out-qualified by de la Rosa on every occasion so far in 2012.
He insists that he has been “really unlucky” and made some errors with tyre management.
“Another setback was missing crucial track time in the free practice sessions,” said Karthikeyan.
“I had to make way for our reserve driver Dani Clos in Barcelona and Silverstone. Again I am sitting out during Friday’s FP1 this weekend,” he added.
Karthikeyan said matching up against de la Rosa has been a tougher task than beating his former teammate.
“It was much easier to compete with my previous teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi than Pedro de la Rosa who comes with a rich experience of working as a McLaren driver,” he said.
Whether he can hang on to the seat for 2013 is therefore an open question.
“Formula One is a complicated business,” said Karthikeyan, “but I would love to remain with HRT as I am very comfortable dealing with this management.
“I know the team’s plans for the 2013 car and it’s expected to be much more advanced. So I am excited about it.”
Subbed by AJN.
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This guy is a hazard being so slow!
HRT are crazy they should throw this guy out he is not worth even f3 he is so damn slow and look at the way he is talking lime any other team is offering him a chance hrt is nonsense thats y they r still keeping him the day they realise they r gonna throw him out like a hot potato.
@andy, the difference is, PDLR has shown he is quick, the problem is he’s 40 something. Nahrain is a man in his prime, and he’s still well slower than Pedro. That’s absolutely sad. How can you be slower than someone that’s honestly nothing more than an ambassador for the team.
Nahrain doesn’t deserve a seat. Period. He’s a serviceable GP2 driver at BEST.
Besides, We already know the next superstar is going to be Valtteri Bottas. That’s pretty obvious to be honest.
Sorry…why do I always call him Nathan??!!!
@Kevin I couldn’t have put it better myself. I’m not letting De La Rosa off the hook either. A journeyman of F1 with little pedigree other than a long term McLaren test driver. When Schumacher broke his leg in ’99 you would have thought that Ferrari would have put their test driver, Luca Badoer, in the race seat, but they gave it to Mika Salo. The teams know who is a racer and who isnt’. Alonso and Webber’s talents in a Minardi were spotted early on and they soon got a faster team than their talents deserve. HRT could produce the next 2 superstars just like Minardi have currently. Take a chance with the young ones, but no doubt Nathan brings in a lot of that Indian Steel money.
Narain, Narain.. it’s not that complicated at all. You are so very slow, you should already be gone. With your help, HRT now has the distinction of finishing more laps down than any other team in F1. On your current pace, you will have missed a complete race in lost laps by the end of the season – an interesting cost saving strategy I must admit. You have also been beaten twice this year by cars that retired while you were still running to the checkers (Maldonado in Malaysia and Button in Bahrain). Why you still have a seat, as young skilled drivers wait in the wings for any chance to play, is one of the greatest mysteries in F1 today. HRT could certainly do no worse from giving other drivers a stab at it.