LIGHTS TO FLAG: Narain Karthikeyan on his ‘wild journey’ to becoming India’s first F1 driver, and helping the next generation

Narain Karthikeyan became India’s first Formula 1 racer when he joined Jordan in 2005, and returned for another two-year stint with backmarkers HRT in the early 2010s.
In our latest Lights To Flag feature he recounts his unlikely path towards Formula 1, the times he spent struggling to stay afloat at the back, and his ambition to assist the next generation from his homeland.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
UnlockedDrivers and stars turn out for 'F1 The Movie' premiere
Leclerc admits ‘difficult’ Canadian GP was 'result of my mistakes’
Horner praises ‘squeaky clean’ Verstappen after P2 finish in Canada
F1 to race in Canada until 2035 with new extension
Wolff calls McLaren intra-team battle 'tricky' after Canada collision
Wolff reveals reasons behind Mercedes’ ‘dominant’ 1-3 in Montreal