For a number of years now, former F1 driver and now Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok has been developing a solid reputation as a respected commentator of how the racing has unfolded at each grand prix.
Along with his colleagues at the sports broadcaster, he has been seen at most of the races this past year, so his opinion is as well informed as anyone else in the paddock. On top of that he is a really great person to talk to and in fact wrote articles for this site’s sister publication Motorsport Monday in the early years of its existence.
So what does the likable former F1 driver think about how the season went? Let’s give you some snippets from his recent extensive interview with betwayinsider, with the full transcript of the interview being found here.
How do you feel the season has gone with the new regulations?
“On the whole it’s been a season that’s somewhat flattered to deceive,” commented Chandhok. “We started off with very high expectations of a Ferrari versus Red Bull battle going all the way to Abu Dhabi. I remember standing in the pit lane after Melbourne and Ferrari had absolutely blitzed that weekend, and we all thought it was going to be quite hard for Red Bull to recover. They were over 40 points behind at that point.
“But Ferrari have just underperformed. They’ve not maximised the potential of their car, which is a frustrating thing, because they’ve actually got a very fast car. I have a spreadsheet that I update as the season goes, tracking car performance based on all the dry qualifying sessions, so it’s pure pace. And even as of now, the Ferrari is the faster car, yet they are nearly 200 points behind in the championship. So much of that is down to reliability, operations, engine penalties and driver errors, just a flood of things.
“So, a season that flattered to deceive in some ways, with the big story being Mercedes, of course.”
Which driver has surprised you most this season?
“One who has surprised me in a positive way is George Russell,” added the former F1 driver. “I think we all knew how good he was and that he was absolutely the right replacement for Valtteri [Bottas], but to see him come away from the season in front of Lewis in the World Championship, that’s sensational.
“Getting his first win was the cherry on top. He was under great pressure from Lewis, it has to be said, in that final stint. To come in as a young hotshot and take on the challenge at Mercedes straight away, I think that’s been a seriously impressive season.”
All this and more can be found in the full transcript of this highly entertaining interview.
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