Q&A - Narain Karthikeyan, HRT

Narain Karthikeyan discusses F1 2012
26.07.2012- Press conference, Narain Karthikeyan (IND) HRT Formula 1 Team F112
26.07.2012- Press conference, Narain Karthikeyan (IND) HRT Formula 1 Team F112
© PHOTO 4

Q:
This is your second season with HRT Formula 1 Team and you know better than anyone how much the team has changed. It won't have been easy but what has this ༺change been like?

Narain Karthikeyan:
The change has been a big one but also a progressive one. Now the entire team is under the same roof and the facilities are really fantastic; anyone who visits them will see the intentions of a very serious Formula 1 team. I give full marks t꧙o the management who put this together and I feel very fortunate to form a part of this team which is growing. We've still got a lot to do but we're making steady progress.

Q:
We've completed just over half of the races, how woul﷽d you assess this first part of the season?

Narain Karthikeyan:
I think that my race performance has been very strong, with my 15th place in Monaco standing out, but in qualifying I've been a bit weaker🦋. Right now I'm about three tenths behind Pedro and that's sꦦomething I have to improve in this second half, no doubt about it. The tyres have been quite difficult to get used to and Pedro has a lot of experience with Pirelli and McLaren. He's a very good driver who hardly makes mistakes and I must learn from him to improve.

Q:
ඣBoth the team and the car are new, what has surprised you most about each one?

Narain Karthikeyan:
We knew the car would be pretty basic but I've been su⭕rprised by its reliability and I think it has potential to improve. And the team has surprised me even more because renewing almost 85% of the staff isn't easy and I think that we have a very good combination of people with a lot of experience in F1 and young people with a lot of hunger. But everyone is very professional and it's a real pleasure working with them.

Q:
How would you 🦄define or what would you high꧅light about your team-mates?

Narain Karthikeyan:
Pedro is a fantastic d🔯river with a lot of experience; he's very consistent but also quick. Dani and Ma are young talented drivers with a lot to learn, but also really nice guys. We're a small united family and we really enjoy working together.

Q:
The start wasn't easy but the progress has been evident. What mark out of ten would you give yo🌞urself this s🐬eason?

Narain Karthikeyan:
We all know that the start should have been better in normal circumstances, but with the changes that had to be made and other things we inheri✨ted, it wasn't possible. To make it to Australia with the car on time was an achievement in itself. We've moved on from that and have progressed a lot. For now I give myself a 6 or a 7, and if I improve my results in qualifying, then an 8 or a 9.

Q:
Your performance at your home Grand Prix in India was fantastic. Having enjoyed moꦯre continuity and confidence, what are your e🐻xpectations for this year?

Narain Karthikeyan:
The car will have evolved a bit more come the Indian Grand Prix so I think I will put in a better performance than last year. It's obviously my favourite race and we will try to do our best there. My expectat🅺ions are always high and we will aim to improve on last year's 17th position.

Q:
It was something completely new in India and, as a result, the Grand Prix w👍as a complete success in terms of assistance. What's the atmosphere like this year?

Narain Karthikeyan:
After last year's success, everyone that missed the spectacle is eager to come this time round. Promotions for the race have started early this year and I'll𝓀 do my bit to help out. The Jaypee Groud have done a tremendou🙈s job putting all of this together and it's going to be a complete success again.

Q:
What would yo♎u say has been the best moment of the season so far?

Narain Karthikeyan:
Probably Monaco. Pedro ha🔴d a very good qualifying session and I had a very good race, finishing 15th. I think that, from the team's perspective, Monaco has been the best race so far.

Q:
What would you consider toꦐ be a successful season once the championship is over?

Narain Karthikeyan:
From where we are now, it would be great to match and beat my teammate P🥃edro who has been a good benchmark. Added to that, if we finish ahead of Marussia in the championship standings that would be a suꦉccessful season.

Q:
Finally a well-earned break before꧂ taking on an intense secon𒊎d half of the season. What are your plans for the holidays?

Narain Karthikeyan:
I'm not really taking a holiday now because I've got a lot of activities to attend, so I'll have to wait until the championship ends. I hope to have a small gap to spend some time with my family in India and train hard. The season has been quite intense and you don't get the chance to train in the gym every day because you're constantly travelling and living in 𓃲hotels. So I will work on my fitness in the gym and come back ready to continue at the highest level.

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