HRT to take legal action against Chandhok for breach of contract?

Hispania Racing (HRT) is reportedly ready to pursue legal action against its former driver Karun Chandhok for breach of contract, after team principal Dr. Colin Kolles accused the Indian of having 'made a lot of promises' but subsequently 'failed to fulfil his obligations' last year.

Given HRT's precarious financial situation - one that scarcely seemed to improve from a troubled beginning of the season to an equally troubled end - it is widely-perceived that both Chandhok and team-mate Bruno Senna secured their seats in F1 2010 by dint of the sponsorship that they were able to bring with them. Kolles contends that the former's, however, never fully materialised.

Chandhok was dropped midway through the campaign to make way for far better-heeled pay-driver Sakon Yamamoto, and according to sources, Hispania only ever received a quarter of the pledged EUR8 million from the 26-year-old's sponsors - a shortfall that Kolles contends significantly stunted the team's progress, explaining that 'we were planning to do certain upgrades on the car, but everything got disturbed'.

For the same reason, the German has revealed, Chandhok - like Senna [see separate story - click here] - was never under consideration for a stay-of-execution into 2011, and now Hyderabad-based newspaper Deccan Chronicle has hinted at the matter being taken before the courts.

"When he signed an agreement with us for the 2010 season, Karun made a lot of promises on paper - but he failed to fulfil his obligations," Kolles stated. "We waited for some time, but we didn't have any other choice than to suspend him at the German Grand Prix.

"However, we did everything diplomatically. We didn't make it public. Since then, Karun was never on the team's radar."