Jehan Daruvala is aiming to become the third Indian to race in Formula 1 after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok
Indian racing driver Jehan Daruvala took a significant step towards realizing his Formula One dream by securing a two-day test with eight-time constructors’ champions McLaren. The 23-year-old, who is currently in his third season in Formula 2, will be clocking valuable miles in a Formula 1 car for the very first time. He will be driving the McLaren MCL35, which competed in the 2021 F1 Championship, at Silverstone in the UK.
Though Daruvala is part of the Red Bull Junior Programme, he has got the required go-ahead from the Milton Keynes outfit to test with a rival F1 team. He has already said the current Formula 2 season is a make-or-break one for him as far as his Formula 1 dream is concerned. He is currently in the middle of his best season with five podiums in six rounds, pushing him to third place in the standings.
Speaking to the media, the Mumbai-based driver sounded ecstatic about getting the opportunity but said it doesn’t guarantee anything for 2023. “This is nothing related to me getting a drive next year in Formula 1. There are not many seats opening up in F1 but I have got this opportunity to be in an F1 car and do well and if I do get the opportunity I want to be ready,” he said.
He further added, “I have never driven a Formula 1 car before. This test is for me to learn the car and its characteristics and find its limits. My aim is to win the F2 Championship and hopefully I do enough and my name is out there!”
Jehan Daruvala not just aspires to be the fastest Indian on wheels. He also become the first from the country in a decade to make it to Formula One racing.
The mere challenge for an Indian racer to get an opportunity to fight for an F1 seat and the many hurdles that come along the way make Daruvala’s quest that much more intriguing. The last time an Indian raced in F1 was in 2012 when Karthikeyan made the grid for the Brazilian GP. This is the closest anyone from the country has come since then.
Daruvala is presently placed third in the 2022 F2 World Championship standings. If he maintains his consistency till the end of the season, he will give himself a real chance of being the third Indian driver in F1 after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok. While Karthikeyan represented teams like Jordan and HRT in F1, Karun Chandhok raced for HRT and Lotus.
It will be interesting to see if Daruvala eventually makes this elite list!
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