Karun Chandhok

Karun Chandhok is part of a very exclusive club of only two Indian Formula 1 drivers. A multiple race winner and podium finisher in GP2, Chandhok was a test driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team in 2007 and 2008, before going on to race in Formula 1 for Hispania Racing and Team Lotus in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Since 2012, he has been competing in diverse motorsports disciplines including Sportscars, Formula E, GT Racing, and Historic Racing. Chandhok became the first Indian to ever compete in the iconic Le Mans 24 hour race, finishing in the top 6 in class at Le Mans in 2012, 2013, and 2015. In 2014-2015, he joined Mahindra Racing for the inaugural season of the all-new Formula E series, having negotiated their entry into the series. Additionally, since 2016, Chandhok has been a regular driver and consultant for the Williams Formula 1 team’s Heritage business, working with the team to expand this arm of their business as well as showcase their World Championship winning Formula 1 cars.

Chandhok has built a strong reputation as a commentator and analyst for motorsport, working with five different global Formula 1 broadcasters, including Sky Sports F1, Star Sports in Asia, BeIN Sports in Qatar, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Channel 4 TV in the UK.

In 2018, Chandhok worked as a driver coach for Isle of Mann TT rider Guy Martin for a Channel 4 special documentary called ‘Speed with Guy Martin’ and is also a regular on ‘Fifth Gear’ on Discovery-Quest. He has also been a columnist for the world’s leading motorsport magazines such as Autosport and Motorsport, as well as Autocar, Overdrive, and EVO in India, and the online platform ‘The Intercooler’.

Beyond his racing and media commitments, Chandhok serves on the Board of Motorsport UK and is a member of Motorsport UK’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, focusing on the single seater motorsport ladder and developing an action plan to improve diversity and inclusivity in the sport. Additionally, his technical knowledge and feedback skills are recognized widely, having worked with top simulators for 3 different Formula 1 teams: Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Williams, as well as Dallara and Wirth Research. He has also consulted for companies like Nissan, managing the Indian cohort of its GT Academy programme, and has worked with manufacturers including Tata and Mahindra.