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It
was a repatriation flight for the Indians stuck in London and being exposed
to infection during the long journey was a risk but the 21-year-old had no
option.
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New Delhi(Agencies): With
COVID-19 cases rising rapidly in India, Formula 1 hopeful Jehan Daruvala is
relieved to have made a tough but “right call” to take a special Air India
flight to London last month, leaving him in the best possible place ahead of
the racing season beginning next month. Daruvala, whose blossoming career got a
shot in the arm when he was signed by Red Bull for its junior driver programme
this year, would have been “stuck” in India before the start of his maiden
Formula 2 season, a support series to Formula 1, if he had not the boarded the
flight from Mumbai three weeks ago.”I had no choice to be honest. If the season
was going to start in July which I thought it would and if India was going to
get worse, I would have been stuck,” Daruvala told PTI from London.
“I had to take the risk. I was going to come
here and self-quarantine anyway. It was a tough choice to make but we made the
right one,” he said.
India is inching towards three
lakh COVID-19 cases, while his hometown Mumbai has crossed the 50,000 mark.
It was a repatriation flight
for the Indians stuck in London and being exposed to infection during the long
journey was a risk but the 21-year-old had no option.
He got the necessary documents
from his Formula 2 team Carlin and four-time Formula 1 Champions Red Bull to be
able travel to the UK. Both the Championships begin in Austria in the first
week of July.With most routine tasks in life becoming strenuous in the wake of
the pandemic, flying too has become a laborious experience. The passengers are
required to follow strict safety protocols.
Recalling the unusual
experience, Daruvala said: “We took all the required safety precautions and it
worked pretty okay. It is what is is.”You have to be be cautious of your
surroundings and take precautions and think that ‘you will be fine’. It was an
evacuation flight, so there were a lot of procedures. In the end, I was here
(in London) where I needed to be.”Now I have to figure out how I will be flying
to Austria,” said Daruvala, who is tipped to become the third Indian to reach
Formula 1 after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.
Daruvala made an instant
impact in the pre-season testing in Bahrain by topping one of the sessions.
He knows he needs to build on
the third place finish in Formula 3 last season but is not reading too much
into his performance in the Formula 2 pre-season testing.”It is hard to go by
the testing results but it went as well as it could. I got used to the car
quite quickly. Happy that we will be finally racing now.”For the first two months
into the lockdown, Daruvala got much-needed time with family in Mumbai. And
when he needed to get into the preparation mode, he was able to reach London.
Asked how the forced break
affected him mentally, Daruvala said: “To be honest, not too bad. It is the
same for everyone, it is a worldwide crisis and all you can do is prepare
mentally and that is what I did.”I have also been working hard on my fitness.
Just can’t wait to get to racing now. It is time to prepare for the season. Now
that I am done with self quarantine, I will be going to the team workshop and
visit the Red Bull factory.”
Daruvala acknowledged the
added pressure going into his rookie Formula 2 season.Now that I am one step
away from Formula 1, it does change things a bit. There is added pressure that
if you perform well, there is a possibility of reaching Formula 1. That is
always there at the back of the mind.”The goal has always been to be in Formula
1. So, I rather focus on doing well, win races and see how the season pans
out,” he said before adding that he should be back to his best by round one.
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