F1’s globalisation has made it harder for drivers from the sport’s traditional markets to find places on the grid.<\/p>\n
That is the claim of Austrian Christian Klien, who raced a few times with the struggling new team HRT in 2010 and is hoping for a full season next year.<\/p>\n
But with pay-drivers now wielding more power than in the recent past, Klien admitted the task is tough.<\/p>\n
“Nico Hulkenberg’s case shows that there are no guarantees,” he is quoted by Vorarlberg Online.<\/p>\n
“He had a great debut year with a pole position in Brazil, and he’s out,” said Klien.<\/p>\n
“In my own case, I have some options,” he revealed.<\/p>\n
“The most obvious one of course is HRT, who are on the verge of establishing themselves as a serious competitor, even if there are some setbacks from time to time.<\/p>\n
“In February there was not much of a team and I would not have believed I would contest three grands prix this year.\u00a0 And there’s still some time until March (2011),” added Klien.<\/p>\n
He thinks part of his difficulty in establishing a strong full-time return to F1 is geographic.<\/p>\n
“It is pretty hard when you are from central Europe,” said Klien, 27.<\/p>\n
“F1 has internationalised very quickly and previously as a Briton, an Italian, a Frenchman, you had a good chance,” said the Austrian.<\/p>\n
“Today there are more cockpits from before, but the driver market is being fed from many more countries; Russia, India, the southeast Asian region, and now probably Korea and China.<\/p>\n
“And if you’re the eighth German, then it is very difficult.\u00a0 Look at France and Italy — 20 years ago there were ten of each.\u00a0 And today?”<\/p>\n
The other problem is the economic climate, and the power wielded by drivers who carry substantial commercial backing.<\/p>\n
“Even a big name like Kimi Raikkonen in the world rally championship is relying on sponsors to get his cockpit,” said Klien.<\/p>\n
“And in F1 the teams are under enormous cost pressure,” he added.<\/p>\n
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