Karun Chandhok’s fledgling Formula One career received a shot in the arm with Force India part-owner Vijay Mallya promising to consider the youngster for a test driver’s role, if not the race driver’s seat, in 2009.
Mallya made it clear that Karun remains on the F1 radar and if he does well in the GP2 series next year, the youngster might end up landing the race diver’s job in 2009.
“I know his family for a long, long time and he is like my son. He himself felt he needs to spend one more year in GP2, where he is doing quite well, before he is ready for F1,” Mallya said from Malaysia.
Mallya’s words are sure to be music for Karun’s ears and the youngster seems on the right track to achieve his F1 dream.
After his maiden GP2 series victory with Durango Corse in Belgium, Karun tested with the Red Bull F1 team. The youngster has also left the midfield Durango to join top-flight I-Sports International, which won the championship previous season.
It was a significant step in the right direction, considering I-Sport driver Timo Glock won the championship and was confirmed by Toyota for the next season.
In the past, drivers who made the GP2 to F1 transition include 2005 champion Nico Roseberg, who joined Williams, and 2006 winner Lewis Hamilton, who was roped in by McLaren.