‘India can be a great F1 venue'
Drivers, officials term country’s inaugural Grand Prix a success.
NEW DELHI:
Formula One and India have the makings of a long and happy relationship after an inaugural grand prix that exceeded expectations, according to some of the leading names of the Formula One community.
The reaction from drivers and officials has been extremely positive with McLaren’s Jenson Button of the belief that the Indian Grand Prix could turn into one of biggest events in Formula One.
“There’s pretty good advertising for this place and I think the word is going to get out,” said Button. “Even though it was the first race there was a pretty good crowd. Indians seem to love motor-racing. I think it’ll turn out to be one of the great events on the Formula One calendar.”
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, who had voiced some concern before arriving in the country about whether the circuit would be ready, was equally impressed.
“I’m very, very happy with it, and everybody else is as well,” he said. “We’ve nothing to complain about. There are bits and pieces they can do, and I’m sure they’ll get down and have a good look at everything.”
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso had words of praise for the track.
“It was fantastic,” said Alonso. “It was a very narrow line of normal grip and outside that line there was a lot of dust and low grip but this is a normal feature for new circuits.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.
Formula One and India have the makings of a long and happy relationship after an inaugural grand prix that exceeded expectations, according to some of the leading names of the Formula One community.
The reaction from drivers and officials has been extremely positive with McLaren’s Jenson Button of the belief that the Indian Grand Prix could turn into one of biggest events in Formula One.
“There’s pretty good advertising for this place and I think the word is going to get out,” said Button. “Even though it was the first race there was a pretty good crowd. Indians seem to love motor-racing. I think it’ll turn out to be one of the great events on the Formula One calendar.”
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, who had voiced some concern before arriving in the country about whether the circuit would be ready, was equally impressed.
“I’m very, very happy with it, and everybody else is as well,” he said. “We’ve nothing to complain about. There are bits and pieces they can do, and I’m sure they’ll get down and have a good look at everything.”
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso had words of praise for the track.
“It was fantastic,” said Alonso. “It was a very narrow line of normal grip and outside that line there was a lot of dust and low grip but this is a normal feature for new circuits.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.