Vijay Mallya has slammed suggestions that he does not want to place an Indian driver in a Force India car. The Team Principal and CEO insists that the country’s currently available drivers would not suit the team and that he continues to search in the ongoing One From A Billion driver scouting programme.
“To be criticised, largely by the Indian folks, that I don't have an Indian driver is I think just blatantly unfair,” Mallya told Reuters. “My only response to them would be that I know more about Formula 1 than they do.”
Mallya has already said that Scotland's Paul di Resta is likely to be retained for 2012
At present, India’s Karun Chandhok is reserve driver for Team Lotus, with Narain Karthikeyan having lost his Hispania race seat to Daniel Ricciardo from Silverstone onwards.
“As far as the existing Indian drivers in Formula 1 are concerned, I can only feel very sorry for them,” adds Mallya. “They are getting drives by the teams who clearly can't compete; if that's what they want to do - drive a Formula 1 car for the sake of driving a Formula 1 car and winding up at the back - I can't do anything about it. There has got to be good, raw talent in India and I am determined to go find it.
“If Ferrari is on the podium, the whole of Italy applauds. If Ferrari wins a race, the whole of Italy celebrates. Nobody ever asks the question of where is the Italian driver? Why suddenly in India? Be thankful for the fact you have an Indian team, sporting the Indian colours on the grid to begin with. The Indian driver will follow but let's not put the cart before the horse.”
Source: gpupdate.net
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