user icon
user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Narain Karthikeyan happy to stay at HRT

Narain Karthikeyan happy to stay at HRT

  • Published on 17 Jul 2012 13:04
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Narain Karthikeyan insists he does not regret sticking with F1 backmarker HRT. The Indian was ousted by the formerly Colin Kolles-led outfit last year but rehired by its new management for 2012. 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 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." (GMM)
F1 News McLaren Marussia HRT

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

Related news

World Championship standings 2021

Pos
Team
Points
1
Mercedes
614.5
2
Red Bull Racing
585.5
3
Ferrari
323.5
4
McLaren
275
5
Alpine F1
158
6
Alpha Tauri
137
7
Aston Martin
77
8
Williams
23
9
Alfa Romeo Racing
13
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Team profile

McLaren
McLaren
Show full profile

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
26 - Mar 28 2021
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18 2021
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2 2021
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9 2021
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
20 - May 23 2021
Monaco
Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6 2021
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20 2021
France
Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27 2021
Austria
Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4 2021
Austria
Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18 2021
United Kingdom
Silverstone
30 - Aug 1 2021
Hungary
Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29 2021
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5 2021
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12 2021
Italy
Monza
24 - Sep 26 2021
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
8 - Oct 10 2021
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
8 - Oct 10 2021
Turkey
Istanbul Park
22 - Oct 24 2021
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
5 - Nov 7 2021
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
12 - Nov 14 2021
Brazil
Interlagos
19 - Nov 21 2021
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
3 - Dec 5 2021
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12 2021
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28 2021
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18 2021
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2 2021
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9 2021
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
20 - May 23 2021
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6 2021
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20 2021
France Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27 2021
Austria Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4 2021
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18 2021
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1 2021
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29 2021
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5 2021
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12 2021
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26 2021
Russian Sochi Autodrom
8 - Oct 10 2021
Japan Circuit Suzuka
8 - Oct 10 2021
Turkey Istanbul Park
22 - Oct 24 2021
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
5 - Nov 7 2021
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
12 - Nov 14 2021
Brazil Interlagos
19 - Nov 21 2021
Qatar Losail International Circuit
3 - Dec 5 2021
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12 2021
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule
show sidebar