Karthikeyan unlikely to drive for Midland

"It looks very unlikely unless things dramatically change," Karthikeyan, who had a disappointing run as a rookie this year, told Reuters on Wednesday.

"We're looking at a test driver's slot for the year 2006, build up on that and see what happens," he added.

The 28-year-old driver was signed up for the 2005 Championship by the British-based Jordan team which was taken over in mid-season by Russian-born Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider and renamed Midland.

"I will be in Formula One in one way or other," he said. "Maybe in 2006 you won't see me driving, but for my long-term future a test driver's role with a bigger team is more important."

Karthikeyan raised millions of dollars in sponsorship to secure the Jordan drive but said it would be tough to find huge sums even if he was offered another drive with Midland because the car was not very competitive.

"If we want to raise the money we can but to come again 19th or 20th, it won't look good," he said. "At least you must take a step forward from where you are this year.

"That was one of the main concerns of the sponsors also."

Big Risk

Karthikeyan said although Midland were designing a new car, it was too early to say how much of an improvement it would be from the old one.

"Maybe they will produce a brilliant car, but that risk we are not going to take," he said.

The Indian driver's hopes of retaining his spot had looked dim after struggling to finish races and then escaping unhurt from the biggest crash of his career at the season-ending Chinese Grand Prix last month.

Still, Karthikeyan was happy he had helped lift the sport's profile in cricket-mad India.

"To do what no Indian had ever been able to accomplish was a big task," he said. "Even as a test driver I will put a lot of effort and try to impress the team so that they will give me a regular drive in the year after."

The Chennai driver's only bright moments were finishing 15th in the opening race in Australia. He also claimed a little piece of motor racing history by becoming the first Indian to score points in Formula One when he came fourth in the six-car U.S. Grand Prix fiasco in Indianapolis.

Midland have already confirmed Dutchman Christian Albers for 2006, while Portugal's Tiago Monteiro is a leading contender to retain the second driver's slot after shining with the team as a rookie.