Indian duo fear the worst
January 04, 2012 14:33:45 UK
Indian duo Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan have virtually accepted that they will not be racing in Formula One this season.
Chandhok was a reserve driver for Team Lotus last season having driven for HRT in 2010. He started just one race for Lotus in 2011 though when he replaced Jarno Trulli at the German Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, 34-year-old Karthikeyan did not have his one-year deal with HRT renewed.
It is unlikely that I will race in 2012. The next best option is to continue as test and reserve driver and for that I am still talking to teams.
Karun Chandhok
Only Williams and HRT now have race seats spare for the new season, and 27-year-old Chandhok admitted: "It's frustrating to watch the races and not doing it.
"But it is unlikely that I will race in 2012. The next best option is to continue as test and reserve driver and for that I am still talking to teams.
"You know the way F1 is. A lot of decisions are made on commercial considerations. It's tough for us. It's not that people from the corporate world have not spoken to us but they are still analysing the sport."
Karthikeyan added: "There are only a few seats available on the grid, so it's open I guess. We are hoping for the best. It is a question of many things coming together, not just what I want. So it is all up in the air as of now."
The latest betting for the 2012 drivers' title has Sebastian Vettel at 3.75, while Fernando Alonso can be backed at 4.50, Jenson Button at 8.00 and Mark Webber at 26.00.
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