First Indian F1 driver ever!

[JulesMaximus]

Gets the axe next weekend in favor of some dude from Australia.

http://www.itv.com/formula1/news/20...race-debut-with-hispania-at-silverstone-0862/

Australia looks set to boast two drivers in a grand prix for the first time in over 30 years at next weekend’s British Grand Prix with reports on Thursday afternoon suggesting Daniel Ricciardo will race for Hispania in place of Narain Karthikeyan at Silverstone.

Toro Rosso’s regular Friday practice driver, who turns 22 on Friday, has been heavily linked with a promotion to a race seat later this season at the Red Bull junior squad in place of either Jaime Alguersuari or Sebastien Buemi.

However, Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper are reporting that Ricciardo will be loaned to HRT for the Silverstone round to take the place of India’s Karthikeyan, who has consistently run at the very back of the field so far this season.

Although neither Toro Rosso nor Hispania have yet confirmed the arrangement, Ricciardo is quoted as expressing his delight at the opportunity to make his Formula 1 debut next week.

“It's pretty, pretty exciting," he is quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

"To make the first one at Silverstone, it's great.

"It's a circuit I know well and it's just up the road from my second home in Britain."

2009 British F3 champion Ricciardo has impressed in his eight Friday practice outings to date and currently sits fourth in this year’s Formula Renault 3.5 standings – despite sitting out the first two races of the year – with victories in Monza and Monaco to his name.

Countryman Mark Webber has flown the flag for Australia in F1 since making his debut in 2002.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

LOL. I wouldn't let him drive the pace car.

 

[BoomerD]

I don't think that's gonna work out so well...

 

[The Boston Dangler]

LOL well set up, jules. he's got the axe several times, and was never even considered by the first indian f1 owner.

 

[Double Trouble]

Sports in general is the ultimate meritocracy. In most other parts of life, who you know matters as much or more as what you know. People skills are as important as any actual training or expertise. When it comes to sports, your actions on the field/track/pitch whatever will always trump everything else.

Years ago, racism/segregation played a big role in things, but now that sports is a multi multi multi billion dollar business, those issues go out the door. If you can perform the "job" (whatever sport it is) well, you'll get the opportunity.

Apparently, there are no good Indian F1 drivers. Not sure why, but apparently they don't exist.

 

[LTC8K6]

Drivers often pay for their ride, either outright with money, or with a sponsor they bring. Talent isn't necessarily the priority when deciding who drives the car. Narain's money or sponsors may have simply run out.

I think we have seen more than a few cases where it was obvious that the best driver is not in an F1 car, yet he stayed there for a long time.

This almost certainly comes down to money.

Narain might be as good as Vettel if he could get into such a ride, but we will probably never know. That's just the way it works. It's a business.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Where's the first asian woman race car driver?

 

[punjabiplaya]

Drivers often pay for their ride, either outright with money, or with a sponsor they bring. Talent isn't necessarily the priority when deciding who drives the car. Narain's money or sponsors may have simply run out.

I think we have seen more than a few cases where it was obvious that the best driver is not in an F1 car, yet he stayed there for a long time.

This almost certainly comes down to money.

Narain might be as good as Vettel if he could get into such a ride, but we will probably never know. That's just the way it works. It's a business.

rgr that

And Narain is not the first JM. You should know your F1 history better than that.

He did help me with a bit about how you never see Indian race car drivers: <thick Indian accent> "Why should I waste gas? We're just going to come back here after one lap anyways."