Karun Chandhok sidelined for German GP
Formula one Driver Karun Chandhok has been sidelined by the Hispania team, and he will be replaced on the tracks by Sakon Yamamoto, who is a reserve driver for the team. Sakon will make his debut at the upcoming German Grand Prix.
The move was almost expected, earlier Colin Kolles’s, the team boss, decided to replace their Brazilian driver Bruno Senna with Sakon at the British Grand Prix.
Senna will be back in the cockpit at the next race, and hence Karun will be watching the race from the pit.
Chandhok although disappointed but is still upbeat and said that he expects to make a comeback in later part of the season. Karun said he knows that the decision is taken by keeping the interest of the team in mind. Karun added that he has no problems in sitting out a few races if it benefits the team.
Hispania team is believed to be in some problems as far as financial aspects of the team are concerned. However, the main aim is to try out all of their drivers before they make the final choice for the 2011 season.
Currently there are 4 drivers under contract with Hispania, Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok, Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien who is a former Jaguar and Red Bull driver. Klien drove for Hispania on Friday’s practice session replacing Senna and also drove in place of Chandhok at 2 races earlier this season.
Klien did impress the team in the practice sessions and is expected to get a chance on the race tracks in upcoming races.
Chandhok said that no one likes to miss races in a season, but still looking at the hind side he said that, he is not a contender for the world championship and neither is he leading the points table so it really does not affect him that badly.
The Indian driver said that his objective while joining this team was to establish his name as a respectable and reputable F1 driver, and till now he is satisfied that he has been on track in achieving his goals. He added that the rotation policy means that he will once again be back in the cockpit in races to come.
He said that Hispania team has done a lot for him and he did give him an opportunity to prove his skills with an F1 car. He said he respects and supports the decision and will wait for his turn.
Chandhok said that the team is solely focused on the upcoming race at Hockenheim and including him everyone is working towards that.
He said that after the race the team will have a joint meeting and decisions will be made as to who will be riding the cars in the next race. The next race after German GP takes place in Hungary.
Chandhok said that the summer break is fast approaching and there will be some major decisions made by the team, regarding the drivers and also upgrades in the cars.
The only Indian driver in the F1 circuit said that the team is focused on the 2011 season and is treating the current season as a testing phase. Chandhok said that he had a chat with Jose Ramon, the team owner, and he has assured him that his place in the team is secured even for the next season. He said that the team owner told him about the team’s future plans and he is very optimistic and excited to be part of them.
For now Yamamoto will take Chandhok’s place in the upcoming race in Germany as announced by the team, and the rotation system will see all 4 drivers swapping places till the end of the season.
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