Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) Vijay Mallya, team principal of the newly named Sahara Force India Formula One team, Wednesday said he is still not ready to have an Indian driver in his team as the current “lot does not suit me”.

Force India Wednesday found a co-owner in Subrata Roy’s Sahara India Pariwar, which will now have an 42.5 percent stake in the Silverstone-based team. Mallya also holds 42.5 percent in the team and the remaining 15 percent belongs to Mol family.

Mallya asserted that he is committed to have an Indian driver in his team in the future but his current focus is taking Force India to higher level in the pinnacle of motorsports.

“The current Indian drivers don’t suit me. I am happy with the current lot of drivers that we have got. The more important thing is that we have got an Indian team on the grid, and I am really proud of that,” Mallya told reporters here.

Mallya said Force India are keen on promoting the young talent in the country and will be taking the selected ones to Silverstone where they will hone their skills.

“Our one in a billion hunt for a F1 driver is on the right track. We will take the winner to the United Kingdom which is a hub for motorsports. He will be training with the local drivers and his expenses will be borne by us,” said Mallya, who has been very vocal about his reluctance to have an Indian driver ever since he ventured into F1 in 2007.

Roy, who will be the chairman of Force India, said they cannot compromise on the team’s performance for the sake of having an Indian driver.

“We would love to have an Indian driver but we will have to wait for some more time. e should produce world-class drivers so that they can even go to other teams,” said Roy.

Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok are the two Indian drivers in the current season.

Force India are currently sixth in the Constructor’s Championship.