Future reserve driver Calado for Force India?
The Sahara Force India team has not named a reserve driver this season, but that could change as James Calado is reportedly in the running and well-positioned to take on this role for the rest of the 2013 season.
James Calado drove for the first time with the Sahara Force India team in mid-July during the young driver tests held at Silverstone. The British driver impressed the Indian team during his run over the three days, and a further collaboration could be established.
The Force India team has made it a habit over the past two years to have their reserve drivers run on Fridays to give them mileage in an F1 car, with Nico Hülkenberg in 2011 and Jules Bianchi in 2012. But this season, there was nothing because Jules Bianchi left the team to join Marussia and James Rossiter was only signed as a development driver in the simulator.
But things could change because James Calado, whose career is managed by Nicolas Todt – who also takes care of Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado, and Jules Bianchi, among others – could become Force India’s reserve driver for the end of the season.
« Testing with Force India has been fantastic. It was incredible to be in a Formula 1 car. I was evaluated by the team and I would like to say that I did a fantastic job! I got into the rhythm well, faster than expected, and I was able to provide good feedback. I can’t hide that we are in discussions with Force India, my manager Nicolas Todt is talking to them at the moment, and hopefully something will happen in the near future, » Calado told Sky Sports F1.
If an agreement is quickly reached between the two parties, it is rumored that the Briton, currently a GP2 driver with ART Grand Prix, could follow in the footsteps of Hülkenberg and Bianchi and be offered some driving time in an F1 car during Friday’s free practice sessions as early as this season.
