Jan.7 (GMM) Karun Chandhok claims he has turned down the chance to return to the F1 grid in 2011 with the HRT team.

With his Indian countryman Narain Karthikeyan in one seat, there is still a vacancy with the Spanish team but 2010 rookie Chandhok told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) that he "turned it down".

"I had the offer from them but I turned it down because it would not have served my purpose in the long run," he said on Friday.

"Racing for the team in the first year made sense, but now I am looking at a team that could fetch me points," added Chandhok.

He said he is now focused on racing for one of "two teams" but doesn't want to say more until a deal is finalised "in a couple of weeks".

Karthikeyan's signing is regarded as being based on his sponsorship, as upon announcing the news the 33-year-old thanked his long-time backer Tata.

But team boss Colin Kolles told Reuters a deal is not done yet.

"Of course we would like to have Tata as a partner, we would like to have more companies from India as a partner," he said.

However, Kolles did not deny that Karthikeyan is bringing money to the seat but said that is widespread in F1.

"What is Sauber doing with Mr Perez? Williams with Mr Maldonado? Do you think we are running on air? The money has to come from somewhere," he insisted.

Kolles confirmed that HRT's new car will not be ready for the first test at Valencia and suggested it might also be missing at Jerez shortly afterwards.

"Maybe we will have the new one for the last two tests," he said.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version