Courtesy of Planet F1. Vijay Mallya has hit back at A1GP boss Tony Teixeira after the South Africa criticised Force India for sending the wrong message to young Indian motorsport fans. According to Teixeira, Force India is doing nothing to promote racing in India. Rather he reckons the team's dismal results are putting young Indian's off entering motorsport. "Force India is not giving that message to young Indian kids. It's doing the opposite," he told Reuters. "Our message is 'India, you can win. It's a winning sport, your kids can win for India.' "Force India has got a long way to go before I see a podium or they see a podium. The Force India thing, although great for India, is a little bit negative in terms of youngsters and getting them to race if you are never going to win a race." Teixeira added that A1GP at least saw an Indian driver in Narain Karthikeyan win a race, while Force India didn't even have an Indian driver behind the wheel of one of their F1 cars. Mallya, though, has hit back saying Teixeira cannot compare F1 to A1GP, which is "nothing more than a standard single-seater series." "I am amused by the comments of Mr Teixeira, promoter of the A1GP series, on how Indians should view motorsport in general and Force India's participation in the FIA Formula One World Championship in particular," Mallya said. "Mr Teixeira is better advised to comment on his native South Africa and his self-styled World Cup of Motorsport that is nothing more than a standard single-seater series. "Trying to reach out to India's youth by encouraging participation in and the temptation of winning a title in a series that does not even begin to compare with GP2 or F1 is just promoting mediocrity amongst young Indians who aspire to be World Class. "This, indeed, is a wrong message which seems to be an act of desperation given the huge and growing support for Formula One and the Force India Formula One team. "I am sure that Indians could win so-called World titles at B or C grade levels of any sport quite easily but competing at the very highest international level is not only a matter of pride but proves a Nation's ability to participate and do so. "The Force India Formula One Team is the first-ever Indian entry in the FIA World Championship and has harnessed international resources. "This cannot be commented upon as being negative given that the Indian National Cricket Team has long had foreign coaches, the best of Indian Technology Companies have harnessed international resources and the much celebrated Tata Nano car has imported components. "For that matter the World Champion Ferrari Formula One Team has Brazilian and Finnish drivers and is no less Italian in the process!" I have said it before as well, put Narain K in the car against Fisi and see how much closer he will be.
After reading all that the only new information I have learned is that Fisi's seat is safe at Force India.
I'm just glad that Force India does not stack the team with just India drivers like Super best friends tried to pull off with Japanese drivers.
it's a waste he's not in F1. he's a bit of a wild child, but he's got great determination, and fast naturally. but i think, the reason VJ didn't put him in he's first in charge, is because VJ is scared he'll be branded another SUper Aguri?
well, i hope to see NK next season in F1. maybe, he'll partner Fisi for Fisi's last season, while Sutil can be groomed into a better driver?
