The HRT F1 Team may have made history at the Bahrain International circuit here today by successfully completing its first laps and roll out during the first practice session but sadly for the team’s Indian driver, Karun Chandhok, his car failed to make it out at all during the two first free practice sessions.

While his car was fired up in the first ninety minutes, it was not ready enough to allow even the one installation lap. Hopefully he will be able to make it out tomorrow....

“My car was fired up this morning. I was hoping that it would be in condition to run fully a bit later than my team mate’s,” he said. “We know that all systems are working and with the third free practice still ahead of us we can still look positively at the start of our first weekend of racing.”

Meanwhile, teammate Bruno Senna was luckier and despite the lack of pre-season testing, they successfully fired up his car and he went on to complete three installation laps in the morning free practice session and 17 laps in the second with a fastest time of 2.06.968 before losing a wheel nut on the way back to the pits, after the chequered flag had dropped.

“It was certainly a relief to make history this morning,” he said. “The car ran as planned and everyone is happy and proud. There is still a lot of work ahead of us. Three laps this morning and seventeen this afternoon is a great start. Of course, we could not try the car at its limits. I am confident that we will be working ahead and I want to congratulate my mechanics, engineers and the whole team for their incredible hard work.”