bigbadbrother
10-25-2014, 04:37 PM
Luke Smith
Former Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan has given his damning opinion on the cost crisis currently engulfing the sport, saying that it is simply too expensive for small teams such as Caterham and Marussia to survive.
Karthikeyan raced for the now-defunct HRT F1 Team between 2011 and 2012, taking part in its final grand prix at the end of the 2012 season and working amid the steady demise of the operation in Spain.
Following today’s news that both Caterham and Marussia will not be racing at the United States Grand Prix due to financial problems, Karthikeyan took to Twitter to make his feelings known.
“F1 is just too expensive and completely unsustainable for minnows,” he wrote. “First HRT, now Caterham/Marussia – has been waiting to happen ever since 2010.”
Karthikeyan also believes that their absences will not be felt by the bigger teams in F1, who will simply race on in Austin as usual.
“18 cars in Austin for next GP but sadly no one will miss the absentees, once the opening lap is completed without incidents. That’s the truth.”
As a man who raced in the dying stages of both HRT and Jordan Grand Prix in 2005, Karthikeyan is well-placed to comment on the situation that both Caterham and Marussia are currently facing.
Although his summation may seem cynical, there is a good element of truth to it. So long as the rich continue to get richer and excel at the front of the field in F1, they will care little for the exploits of the minnows fighting to survive at the very back.
Former Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan has given his damning opinion on the cost crisis currently engulfing the sport, saying that it is simply too expensive for small teams such as Caterham and Marussia to survive.
Karthikeyan raced for the now-defunct HRT F1 Team between 2011 and 2012, taking part in its final grand prix at the end of the 2012 season and working amid the steady demise of the operation in Spain.
Following today’s news that both Caterham and Marussia will not be racing at the United States Grand Prix due to financial problems, Karthikeyan took to Twitter to make his feelings known.
“F1 is just too expensive and completely unsustainable for minnows,” he wrote. “First HRT, now Caterham/Marussia – has been waiting to happen ever since 2010.”
Karthikeyan also believes that their absences will not be felt by the bigger teams in F1, who will simply race on in Austin as usual.
“18 cars in Austin for next GP but sadly no one will miss the absentees, once the opening lap is completed without incidents. That’s the truth.”
As a man who raced in the dying stages of both HRT and Jordan Grand Prix in 2005, Karthikeyan is well-placed to comment on the situation that both Caterham and Marussia are currently facing.
Although his summation may seem cynical, there is a good element of truth to it. So long as the rich continue to get richer and excel at the front of the field in F1, they will care little for the exploits of the minnows fighting to survive at the very back.