Team Lotus owner and team principal, Tony Fernandes, says he can’t rule out running Karun Chandhok at his home grand prix in India this season.
The former-Hispania driver, now third driver for Fernandes team, has so far had only one outing in the T128 during the season opening race in Australia. Unfortunately, his debut with them lasted a single lap after he lost the car and hit a wall.
Fernandes may be keen to utilise Chandhok’s nationality to attract sponsorship to the outfit, highlighting the recent boom in interest within the country.
“Motorsport is booming in the continent,” Fernandes told the Deccan Chronicle. “Sponsors are ready to pour millions into the sport. Being the second most populous country with a vibrant economy, India offers great opportunities for F1 marketing. So Asia is where the future is.”
The AirAsia owner praised the 27-year-old’s technical talent, adding that a temporary race seat for the 30th October event ‘can’t be ruled out’.
“His technical knowledge is amazing and he adds more value to the team,” he added. “It’s too early to confirm [if he’ll race in India], but I can’t rule that out.
“I know Chennai is the motorsport capital of India. So fans would really enjoy it.”
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