Klien takes Yamamoto’s place at HRT

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Christian Klien will return to F1 action this weekend in place of Sakon Yamamoto at HRT.

Team principal Colin Kolles explained the reason for the 11th-hour change:

It looks as if Sakon Yamamoto has a food poisoning, and he doesn’t feel well. Because of this, Christian Klien will be driving the car this Friday and the rest of the Singapore Grand Prix. I hope Sakon gets well soon and is able to drive at his home Grand Prix in Japan.
Colin Kolles

However it may be significant that the team chose to put Klien, their other reserve driver, in the car instead of Karun Chandhok, who has started ten races for them this year.

Klien previously drove for the team in first practice for the Spanish and European Grands Prix. He will be the fourth driver to start a race for the team this year along with Yamamoto, Chandhok and Bruno Senna.

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    43 comments on “Klien takes Yamamoto’s place at HRT”

    1. Profile Photo

      geo132 (@geo132)
      24th September 2010, 10:15

      Would’ve preferred to see Chandhok back into his racing seat..

      1. Profile Photo

        wasiF1 (@wasif1)
        25th September 2010, 3:37

        Agree he have some experience in the car, I think they decided to choose him to see who can get the best of the car as they know they are improving anything from 12th.

    2. Matt Clinch
      24th September 2010, 10:16

      Seriously? Food poisoning?

      Is Karun Chandok going to get another run this year?

      1. Profile Photo

        Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
        24th September 2010, 10:28

        Chandhok?

        Probably not.

        1. Hamish
          24th September 2010, 11:08

          We all know what he meant.

          1. Andy
            24th September 2010, 11:28

            Was gutted not to see Chandhok now getting ‘his’ seat back. Easily the best HRT driver this year…

            1. LewisC
              24th September 2010, 13:31

              He’s a great guy, but Senna outqualified him consistently, didn’t he?

            2. Profile Photo

              US_Peter (@us_peter)
              24th September 2010, 18:47

              Senna outqualified him consistently, but Chandhok outraced Senna on more than one occasion, and was leading the theoretical “new teams drivers championship” when he was sidelined.

      2. Hare
        24th September 2010, 13:14

        Wonder if it was Indian Food? ;)

        1. Arun.India
          24th September 2010, 13:29

          Pretty sure it is!!!

          1. Profile Photo

            matt90 (@matt90)
            24th September 2010, 14:04

            If so then that plan didn’t work out so well.

        2. SijS
          24th September 2010, 13:33

          hmm… not cool :( and can’t believe they don’t run karun but his sponsor.

        3. Dean
          24th September 2010, 16:12

          Hahh! That would have been awesome! Get Karun back in his car!

          1. Profile Photo

            wasiF1 (@wasif1)
            25th September 2010, 3:42

            Karun’s day in the HRT cockpit is over, he needs to find a seat for another team in 2011 very soon.

    3. Profile Photo

      GeorgeTuk (@georgetuk)
      24th September 2010, 10:18

      Hurrah, about time he was given a chance, the only drive in the team with F1 experience is the last to have a go.

      I don’t understand why that team operates the way it does but I hope it doesn’t go on next year (if they are still there that is!).

      1. Profile Photo

        Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
        24th September 2010, 10:31

        Actually, Sakon Yamamoto has experience before 2010 – he did seven for Super Aguri in 2006 and seven forr Spyker in 2007.

        The team works the way it does because of money. They need it, Yamamoto has it.

    4. Alastair
      24th September 2010, 10:21

      Chandhocks results were actually pretty good, he’s consistent. I feel sorry for the guy to be honest.

      1. Profile Photo

        GeorgeTuk (@georgetuk)
        24th September 2010, 10:22

        I agree I feel bad for Chandhock, hopefully he will be picked up by a more professional outfit next season.

        1. Profile Photo

          Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
          24th September 2010, 10:43

          An Austraian replacing a Japanese (who replaced an India) in a Spanish team with a Brazilian team-mate and a Romanian-German team principal at the Singapore Grand Prix … if nothing else, Hispania are a truly multi-national effort.

          1. BasCB
            24th September 2010, 16:37

            Don’t forget the english engine manufacturer and the italian designer. A truely multi-national mix up.

    5. Mike
      24th September 2010, 10:24

      I feel sorry for Chandok, because I really like him….. But I think Klien will show that the HRT is slightly faster than we all thought… And it’s about time they used him!

    6. 18is9
      24th September 2010, 10:39

      first they milked Karun, then Yakon, now Christian…

      1. Profile Photo

        Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
        24th September 2010, 10:45

        Actually, Klien isn’t paying – Yamamoto is sick. Hispania are obligated to run a second driver; the only way out is if a driver is injured in qualifying because in order to race, a driver must first qualify.

        1. Peter
          24th September 2010, 10:52

          How do you know he isn’t paying?

          1. Profile Photo

            Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
            24th September 2010, 11:06

            Um, because who else are they going to put in the car? Karun Chandhok isn’t in Singapore.

            1. Ewan
              24th September 2010, 11:30

              Karun Chandhok is in Singapore, you can read his comments on the race here:

              http://twitter.com/karunchandhok

              However he’s signed up as a commentator, maybe he’s decided he’s got a better chance for next season by getting his face and voice known to the public before the Indian grand prix

            2. Profile Photo

              Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
              24th September 2010, 11:42

              I find it hard to believe that, with Ecclestone on his side, Chandhok won’t be in an F1 car in the year of the first Indian Grand Prix.

            3. Hamish
              24th September 2010, 14:16

              Yep Chandhok is in Singapore. I don’t know with Hispania. Theres more questions than answers with that team.

            4. codesurge
              24th September 2010, 18:25

              Chandok was in the paddock today wearing a HRT shirt. Really nice guy!

    7. Alex Bkk
      24th September 2010, 10:41

      Yeah, I like Chandok too… Last season he was the only sensible and knowledgeable voice on the Star Sports F1 feed that we get in Asia.

      1. MattB
        24th September 2010, 17:17

        He’s on again this weekend according to Twitter. Was on BBC today tho

    8. Sush Meerkat
      24th September 2010, 11:03

      alright F1fanatics, own up, which of you sent Sakon the dodgy Food Hamper?

      1. Meander
        24th September 2010, 11:20

        i lol’d ;)

        sushi is dangerous food!

    9. Profile Photo

      Red Andy (@red-andy)
      24th September 2010, 11:25

      Klien might be of slightly more use than Yamamoto, but I’m not holding out hope for much else.

    10. FD
      24th September 2010, 12:21

      Does Sakon actually bring in money? Does anyone know of any Japanese HRT sponsers?
      Hard to fathom that Sakon has yen behind him and Kamui doesn’t!

    11. Robbie
      24th September 2010, 13:23

      Just thought I’d add my sentiment for Chandhok. Lovely guy, good driver, unfortunate circumstances. He deserves better.

    12. Formel1-GP
      24th September 2010, 16:10

      It’s good to see that HRT provides chances for many drivers to drive, not sure if this is giving the trust a driver may need…

    13. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      24th September 2010, 17:44

      This from Adam Cooper on Twitter:

      Sakon didn’t reply to my ‘get well soon’ SMS but a Japanese colleague says he’s in his hotel room and – allegedly – fully fit…

      1. Profile Photo

        US_Peter (@us_peter)
        24th September 2010, 18:55

        Very interesting indeed. The way that team operates is very peculiar. Maybe Epsilon or Villeneuve will take over for next year and there won’t be so many antics.

        Also, Will Buxton had the best tweet on the matter:

        An HRT press release is being handed out. What’s it going to be? Another new driver? Team been sold to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

    14. codesurge
      24th September 2010, 18:29

      I think it’s definitely not a premeditated change though. The sidepods of Klein’s car were bare for FP1 – they only added “Christian” on the side in time for FP2.

      1. adaptalis
        25th September 2010, 4:41

        actually, bruno’s car was bare too in fp1.

    15. Pink Pirelli
      24th September 2010, 23:15

      Looks like HRT is playing musical drivers again. If Yamamoto is “sick”, why is Karun not back in *his* seat?

    16. Profile Photo

      wasiF1 (@wasif1)
      25th September 2010, 3:25

      That is the best driving change occurred this year. I liked it they they replaced him, not sure why Karun who was in Singapore & still HRT paid driver wasn’t given a chance as he have more experience with the car then Kilen.

    Comments are closed.