Chandhok just a spectator on first day in F1

Posted at 12:00am on 12 March 2010

By Alan Baldwin

MANAMA, March 12 (Reuters) - India's Karun Chandhok could only watch in frustration on Friday after failing to get out on track for the first practice sessions of his Formula One career.

The problems mean that the 26-year-old Chennai-born driver will, at best, try out his new HRT car for the first time only hours before Saturday's qualifying for the Bahrain season-opener.

"There's not much to say really, it was a very frustrating first day in Formula One," Chandhok, only the second Indian to make it to Formula One, told Reuters before rushing off to a drivers' briefing without so much as a lap under his belt.

"The mechanics worked their socks off to get it (the car) done, they worked all night," he added.

"Firstly we had some sort of problem with the hydraulics and the clutch. I think it was hydraulic or electronic, we still have to work out what's going on. The gearbox has been on and off the car and the clutch has been checked about five times.

"I feel really sorry for the boys because they have been here all night and they haven't seen their car run."

Chandhok was granted his super licence only on Thursday after being confirmed at the new Spanish-based team barely a week ago.

Brazilian team mate Bruno Senna, nephew of the late three-times champion Ayrton, did at least manage to complete what amounted to a 'shakedown' lap in his car but was 11.5 seconds off the leaders' pace.

"It's going to be bloody hard," Chandhok said of the weekend ahead.

"We've all been around Formula One long enough to realise one session isn't enough. Even for the four teams at that (top) end of the paddock, missing half a session is a big setback for them let alone for a new team with rookie drivers."

Team principal Colin Kolles told Reuters that the team would do everything to get Chandhok on track in Saturday's final session.

He said the problem was with a sensor on the clutch.

"It's been an all-out day. We had no setup in the car, we had no gear ratios, we just had to do some laps if there are some leaks or the systems are working," he said, looking like he had barely slept.

"We will finish it. The problem is that it's a lot of work and it will be finished by tomorrow.

"We are not going to be competitive this weekend," added the Romanian-born German, who described his team's race to finish the car in time for Bahrain as "like medical surgery" with no mistakes allowed.

"People are not really knowing the exact details and it's better maybe not to know," he added.

"Nobody is looking to be competitive (here). We have to do the maximum mileage we can do, the race will be a test -- no scratch on the car and do as much mileage as possible."

(Editing by Clare Fallon; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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