Chandhok previously raced in Formula One for Hispania Racing in 2010. He also previously competed in the GP2 Series for three years, winning two races.
Follow Us
Karun Chandhok is an Indian racing driver and television presenter who most recently competed for Mahindra Racing in Formula E. Chandhok previously raced in Formula One for Hispania Racing in 2010. He also previously competed in the GP2 Series for three years, winning two races. Chandhok raced for Seyffarth Motorsport in the FIA GT Series in 2013. Chandhok won the Formula Asia championship in 2001 and the inaugural Formula Asia V6 by Renault championship in 2006. Chandhok has worked as an analyst, co-commentator, and pit-lane reporter for a number of British broadcasters since leaving F1. He has been a member of Sky Sports F1’s live coverage team since 2019.
Chandhok has made contributions to a number of motorsport governing bodies. He has been a member of Motorsport UK’s Board of Directors since 2021, where he also serves on the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. He also serves on the FIA Drivers Commission.
Vicky Chandhok, multiple Indian rallying champion and president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India since 2003, is Chandhok’s father. Suhail Chandhok, his younger brother, is a Star Sports India commentator. Chandhok was the Indian National Racing Champion in 2000, winning seven of ten Formula Maruti races. In all ten races, he won the pole position and set the fastest lap time. Chandhok won the Formula 2000 Asia championship in 2001, becoming the youngest Asian Formula Champion. He drove for Team India Racing.
Chandhok was linked with the Force India team, which was formed in 2008. It was an Indian-registered team previously owned by a family friend, Vijay Mallya. Following the departure of the team’s driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, from Force India to Ferrari during the 2009 season, Chandhok was briefly linked with the seat, with long-time supporter Bernie Ecclestone backing him. Vitantonio Liuzzi, the team’s test driver, was instead promoted to the race seat. On June 11, 2010, Chandhok stated in Autosport that he hoped to join Force India in 2011. Chandhok believed that the commercial benefits of having an Indian driver on the team made him an obvious choice.
Chandhok debuted for Hispania Racing alongside former GP2 teammate Bruno Senna in 2010, becoming the second Indian driver to compete in Formula One after Narain Karthikeyan in 2005. Chandhok finished fourteenth in Australia, the team’s first classified finish. He finished 15th in Malaysia and 17th in China. Chandhok retired in the following three races due to suspension failure in Spain, a collision with Jarno Trulli in Monaco, and technical issues in Turkey. He finished 18th in Canada and Valencia, and 19th in Silverstone, but was replaced in the German Grand Prix by Sakon Yamamoto. He was a co-commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage of all subsequent races.
Chandhok was confirmed as a reserve driver for Team Lotus for the 2011 season on March 22, 2011. He crashed out on the installation lap during free practise for the Australian Grand Prix. At the Spanish Grand Prix, he reprised his co-commentary role for BBC Radio 5 Live. He replaced Jarno Trulli for the German Grand Prix after driving in three more free practise sessions. He finished 20th and last, two laps behind teammate Heikki Kovalainen and one lap behind Daniel Ricciardo, who finished 19th. He was also four laps slower than race winner Lewis Hamilton. After the Japanese Grand Prix, Team Lotus released Chandhok, preventing him from competing in his home Grand Prix three weeks later in India. Tony Fernandes and Chandhok reached a financial settlement, but it took until April 2013 for it to be finalised.
| Races | 11 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Points | 0 |
