Indian GP’s future is uncertain and to make the problem more complex, the tax issues and the legal wrangling have been leading to a wrong signal for the sport in the country, feels Sauber F1 Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn.
“Such things are not good for Indian GP and the F1 fans in India. (Tax issues and court cases) It should be avoided. The events of F1 happen throughout the year and all of them are big events, unlike an Olympics or a World Championships of any sport which is not that regular. The base of F1 is growing in India and will grow in future. With so much of popularity and focus of the sport across the world, when something happens in a particular nation, it sends a wrong signal,” the India-born Monisha told reporters on Friday.
In the fight for the constructors’ championship, Monisha’s Sauber have 45 points and are 17 points behind the sixth-placed Sahara Force India. Monisha feels that her team is heading in the right direction. “We are trying hard. We need to continue the good work. We also need a bit of luck and we are hoping for it. We have a fairly competitive car which is presently the best for us. We have got the cars which are already upgraded. So, instead of hoping that other teams make a mistake, we are focusing on doing our part right,” she pointed out.
Although rumour about Nico Hulkenburg’s exit from the team for the the 2014 line-up is doing the rounds, Monisha explained that there are no confirmation from any side. “We are yet to confirm the drivers for the upcoming season. We have two very good drivers and both are talented. While Nico had a better second half of the season in comparison to the early part, Esteban Gutierrez has been doing well all along,” she said