Bernie Ecclestone has backed Karun Chandhok to return to the formula one grid next year with a “better car”.

When the Indian rookie signed up for his debut season with HRT this year, he thanked F1 chief executive Ecclestone for being “a superb pillar of support to me and my family”.

However, it is now expected that Chandhok, 26, will sit out the remainder of the season in deference to the Japanese pay-driver Sakon Yamamoto.

But crucially, one of Chandhok’s sponsors is Jaypee Sports, who are bringing formula one to India next year at the circuit currently under construction 40 kilometres southeast of New Delhi.

Ecclestone in 2010 described India as one of “the most important and powerful players in the world of business, culture and sport”.

The Briton is now quoted by the Times of India: “Having an Indian team (Force India) is obviously a big help. An Indian driver will be an even better deal.

“I definitely want to see Karun in a better car next year,” said the diminutive 79-year-old.

Ecclestone said of Chandhok, who now travels to the grands prix to commentate for British television: “He served his apprenticeship in a car that he could do nothing about.

“He really needs to be in a team where he can show his potential because I think he can be very, very good if he gets the right car,” added Ecclestone.

He said he plans to visit the site of next October’s inaugural Indian grand prix after the forthcoming race in Brazil.

“The rains would’ve stopped by then (November),” said Ecclestone. “Work has really suffered I heard.”

On a PR visit to India last weekend, Lewis Hamilton also backed Chandhok to shine at the wheel of a better car.

“Karun is a very good driver,” said the 2008 world champion. “He understands the nuances of the sport very well and if he is able to get a better car, he would be able to make a big difference.”

Karun Chandhok is excited about his home country hosting a grand prix next year, but first must secure a 2011 race cockpit.

The Indian rookie is currently under contract to HRT, but unlikely to reappear for the struggling Spanish team in 2010 due to Sakon Yamamoto wielding more powerful sponsors.

But that could be set to change, after the FIA on Wednesday confirmed that Delhi will host its inaugural formula one race next October.

“Almost all commercial partners involved with formula one see India as a key market and this is a great way to bring them into our country,” Chandhok is quoted by the DNA news agency.

“To be the first Indian driver on the grid at the Indian GP will be a huge thing to have on my CV and we’re all working hard to secure the best option for 2011,” he said.

Previously, the 26-year-old has said he is unlikely to team up with his countryman and billionaire Vijay Mallya, who heads the Force India team.

But Chandhok is now sounding more bullish, with the team’s Adrian Sutil linked with a move elsewhere.

“At the moment it’s still a bit early to say,” remarked Chandhok to indiancarsbikes.in. “I’m still contracted to HRT and we’ll see what the future holds.”

HRT on Tuesday confirmed that Sakon Yamamoto has retained his race seat for the weekend’s Hungarian grand prix.

The Japanese, reportedly with $5 million in sponsorship to pay to the struggling Spanish team in 2010, raced initially in Bruno Senna’s cockpit at the recent British grand prix.

He then replaced Karun Chandhok in Germany, but the Indian rookie – whose new sponsor Japyee was on the Cosworth-powered F110 at Hockenheim – said it is possible he will be back in the car this weekend in Hungary.

But in a media statement, Hispania Racing announced its Hungaroring lineup as Yamamoto, 28, alongside Senna.

“I can’t wait to go back to the Hungaroring as I know the circuit already very well from my formula one races with Super Aguri, Spyker and with ART in the GP2 series,” said Yamamoto.

Sakon Yamamoto looks set to retain his race seat at HRT for now.

The Japanese, reportedly with $5 million in sponsorship to pay to the struggling Spanish team in 2010, raced initially in Bruno Senna’s cockpit at the recent British grand prix.

He then replaced Karun Chandhok in Germany, but the Indian rookie – whose new sponsor Japyee was on the Cosworth-powered F110 at Hockenheim – said it is possible he will be back in the car this weekend in Hungary.

“After the (Hockenheim) race we are going to talk about the next race,” said Chandhok in Germany before returning to his home in England.

Senna said in Germany that he will keep his seat at all the remaining races in 2010, but Finland’s Turun Sanomat suggested that HRT’s fourth driver Christian Klien is expecting to race the dark grey car before the season is out.

But the publication added: “It is probable that money talks and Senna and Yamamoto will be (in the cars) in Hungary.”

In Hispania’s post-race statement on Sunday, Yamamoto sounded confident.

“We tried some adjustments on the set up (at Hockenheim) which will help us already for the next races.”

Jun.11 (GMM)  Karun Chandhok has set out his stall for a switch from struggling HRT to the Force India team for 2011.

The Indian rookie said in Montreal that while he is happy to have proved competitive alongside Bruno Senna so far this year, it would make more sense to be on the lineup of the team headed by his countryman Vijay Mallya.

Billionaire Mallya was recently quoted as doubting an Indian is ready to drive a Force India.

But Chandhok, 26, said on Thursday: “I’d love to drive for Force India at some point in my career, whether it happens next year or not, because I think in some ways I’m an ambassador for the sport in our country.”

With Delhi now set to join the F1 calendar, Chandhok insists it is the perfect time to unite an Indian driver with the Silverstone based team.

“A lot of what happens to the sport in that part of the world depends on us a little bit, and I think if you have an Indian driver in an Indian car at the Indian grand prix, it’s a no-brainer in terms of ticket sales,” he insisted.

Chandhok acknowledges that Mallya’s assessments of his form have been cool to date due to inconsistent performances from his GP2 teams.

“So I think this year he’s been quite surprised because I’ve been competitive against Bruno and I think generally I’ve done quite a good job.

“This is just what I hear from people around him; we haven’t really had a conversation about it yet,” he added.

Chandhok also admits that staying with the new Spanish team HRT might not be a bad call.

“If these guys carry out the plans which the (team owners) Carabantes have talked to me about, they can be a very competitive team in the future.

“So far they seem happy with what I’m doing.  Jose Ramon is very keen to try to do something for next year as well,” he added.

Karun Chandhok has tersely insisted he is “not worried” about the future of the struggling HRT team.

Recent reports quoted Bernie Ecclestone as suggesting the new Spanish outfit was in financial trouble, amid reports it will run out of spare parts by next month’s Canadian grand prix.

In fact, team officials insist the F1 chief executive is simply helping Hispania with its technical plans for 2011, including the use of a wind tunnel and facilities to design its own car.

Asked about the negative rumours by the Times of India, Chandhok said this week: “That’s a matter between Bernie, Colin (Kolles) and (Jose Ramon) Carabantes.

“It has nothing to do with me,” added the 26-year-old Indian rookie.  “I know what the truth is and I am not worried.”

Although friends with his teammate Bruno Senna, Chandhok insists he has been the quickest HRT driver in 2010 but is keen for a car upgrade in order to ensure he has a seat next year.

“I’ve generally been faster than Bruno,” he said, adding that the Cosworth powered F110 “really needs” a new aerodynamic package.

“But as of now, my objective is to keep pushing as much as I can and secure a good position for 2011.  The rest isn’t up to me,” added Chandhok.

(GMM)

We reported earlier that while the Indian rookie had to spend most of Thursday in his Barcelona hotel, he has been feeling better ever since.

He drove his HRT car on Friday afternoon, and told Reuters on Saturday morning: “I feel better now, fully recovered.

“I went to Munich on Monday and I ate something there.  I have been really ill since.  All of Tuesday I was in bed, I just couldn’t move,” said Chandhok.

(GMM)  Karun Chandhok is perhaps not too upset about sitting out Friday morning’s initial practice session at Barcelona.

The Indian rookie’s cockpit will be occupied by Christian Klien for the 90 minute session as HRT looks to benefit from the input of a more experienced driver.

But Chandhok might not be too upset about the decision after feeling ill for the past few days.

He explained on Wednesday that he spent “most of the day” in his Spanish hotel with a stomach bug.

And after spending Thursday at the Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday, he added via his Twitter account: “Feeling a bit better now so (teammate Bruno Senna) thinks I should attempt a real meal for dinner.

“Hmmm, well, I do have the morning off to recover!” Chandhok joked.

It rained overnight in Barcelona, and Friday morning was chilly and overcast.

Karun Chandhok will have to admit to being “amazed” after sitting out the morning practice session in Barcelona.

To both his and teammate Bruno Senna’s chagrin in Spain, the Indian rookie’s HRT car was occupied instead by new test and reserve driver Christian Klien.

Austrian Klien’s 26 laps were the first at a grand prix weekend since he practiced in a Honda in 2007, but he has been brought in by team boss Colin Kolles for his experience of 48 grands prix and three subsequent years of testing.

Before the morning session, Chandhok was quoted as saying by the BBC: “I’ll be amazed if he goes half a second quicker than Bruno; I highly doubt it.”

However, Klien was in fact exactly half a second quicker than Brazilian rookie Senna, cutting the deficit to F1′s other new teams to just five tenths.

Chandhok said: “Christian has got good experience of some good teams so he could bring something.

“The team is a little bit behind the game, so any information we can get from other people is useful.  It’s frustrating for me, I want to drive the car as much as possible.”

Apr.22 (GMM) Most of the Force India and HRT teams are still stranded in Shanghai, it emerged on Thursday.

Four days after the chequered flag waved at the end of the Chinese grand prix, it was reported that most teams – and the crucial F1 freight and cars – are now arriving back on European soil.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner said the air travel delays due to the famous volcanic ash cloud will have little effect on the team’s plans for Barcelona, while Lotus’ Mike Gascoyne said planned developments for Spain will be applied “to both cars”.

But a Force India spokeswoman said in Shanghai on Thursday that while the drivers are back in Europe, “the majority of the team” is still in China.

With the team owned by the Kingfisher airline magnate Vijay Mallya, she told Reuters that they are hoping for their charter to leave “at some point tomorrow”.

Indian rookie Karun Chandhok also revealed that most of the HRT team is still in China, amid reports that hundreds of other F1-related personnel are in a similar situation and face waits for flights that could extend well into the weekend.

Apr.20 (GMM) Two days after the chequered flag in Shanghai, the world of formula one is still clamouring to leave the venue of the Chinese grand prix.

Although there are signs the volcanic ash cloud above Europe might soon clear for a few days to allow its hordes of absent residents to return home, multitudes of F1′s travelling personnel are currently embarking on elaborate journeys to reunite with team bases and families.

Mark Webber flew from China to Dubai, then to Rome, and woke up in Nice on Tuesday morning after five hours of sleep with a mission to return to the UK.

Others have tackled even more bizarre routes back to Europe, including Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari who headed to Madrid via Shanghai, Beijing and New York.

Some, like Indian rookie Karun Chandhok who flew to Madras, were essentially unaffected; Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg went on vacation to Thailand, while Lewis Hamilton had a sponsor date in South Africa.

Peter Sauber went on business to Dubai and Japan.

But Nico Hulkenberg, like hundreds of others involved in the sport, are simply holed up in Shanghai with an hopeful eye on the air timetables. Sebastian Vettel is hoping for a direct flight to Switzerland on Tuesday.

Michael Schumacher proved that in F1 it’s all about who you know, as he has hitched a ride on Bernie Ecclestone’s private plane, but at last word they were still awaiting a green light to fly to Europe.

There are reports that Norbert Haug and Timo Glock found seats on Lufthansa flights to Europe on Monday night, while Ferrari’s Stefano Domenicali and Aldo Costa also somehow managed to head straight for Europe.

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were aboard Ferrari’s first of several flights home, with subsequent flights also scheduled even though their destination is not entirely known.

A shared charter with fellow Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso and Sauber is plan-B.

Alonso’s friend Robert Kubica was also aboard Ferrari’s initial VIP flight, so as to be in Italy to drive a Renault Clio in this week’s Rally 1000 Miglia.

When asked by Spain’s AS correspondent if the Ferrari favour was the first sign that Alonso will have a new teammate in 2011, Kubica rolled his eyes and answered: “Sure, sure, sure.”

The Lotus team, owned by Malaysian aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, was jetted to Kuala Lumpur to await an AirAsia charter back to Europe.

McLaren’s chartered jet, with buses waiting in Spain to then take team members on a long road trip back to the UK, is scheduled to leave Shanghai on Wednesday.

“We have said if it is a big enough plane, then anyone else can come on board,” said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Williams’ aviation partner Cloud9 is also looking into a private team charter, while bosses Sam Michael and Adam Parr flew from Shanghai to Dubai but then found themselves unexpectedly diverted to Beirut.

It is rumoured that some teams are looking into moving their cars back to Europe while the FOM planes are stuck in Europe, but the idea of putting the containers on boats has been ruled out.

“You need a plane,” said Mercedes’ Haug. “By boat, we will run out of time before Barcelona.”