Chandhok vows to push on despite woes

The HRT driver has been unable to get out in his car so far - with a plan to get on track in Saturday morning's free practice scuppered by a hydraulic problem.

The team is hoping to get the Dallara-built car fixed for qualifying, which he will need to take part in if he is to be allowed to start the race.

Despite the difficulties he has faced, Chandhok says he can have nothing but praise for the job his team has done.

"It is just the luck we are having," said Chandhok. "We got in the car this morning and the engine fired up fine, and we went to get gears and just lost hydraulic pressure.

"It seems to be a bit of a nightmare for us. In some ways it is annoying and frustrating, but in some ways it is normal because it is a shakedown and that is what you end up seeing at shakedowns.

"The team are working amazingly hard. These guys have worked 40 hours straight and they are doing the best job they can - unfortunately we haven't had the time to do all this in private."

He added: "To have got into the car and then get back out three minutes later was not a very good feeling, but what can I do? I have to keep my chin up. There is no point getting depressed about it, and no point slagging the team off. It is not anyone's fault- it is just circumstances.

"I am not happy about it, the team is not happy about it, but this is the situation we are in. Slagging anybody off is not going to help, we just have to pull together."