With racing season beginning in July, F1 hopeful Daruvala's special flight gamble pays off

With COVID-19 cases rising rapidly in India, Formula 1 hopeful Jehan Daruvala is relieved to have made a tough but "right call" to take a special Air India flight to London last month, leaving him in best possible place ahead of racing season beginning next month.  Daruvala, whose blossoming career got a shot in arm when he was signed by Red Bull for its junior driver programme this year, would have been "stuck" in India before start of his maiden Formula 2 season, a support series to Formula 1, if he had t boarded flight from Mumbai three weeks ago. 

Daruvala's special flight gamble pays off

"I had choice to be honest. If season was going to start in July which I thought it would and if India was going to get worse, I would have been stuck," Daruvala told PTI from London.

"I had to take risk. I was going to come here and self-quarantine anyway. It was a tough choice to make but we made right one," he said.

India is inching towards three lakh COVID-19 cases, while his hometown Mumbai has crossed 50,000 mark. It was a repatriation flight for Indians stuck in London and being exposed to infection during long journey was a risk but 21-year-old had option. He got necessary documents from his Formula 2 team Carlin and four-time Formula 1 Champions Red Bull to be able travel to UK. Both Championships begin in Austria in first week of July. 

With most routine tasks in life becoming strenuous in wake of pandemic, flying too has become a laborious experience. passengers are required to follow strict safety protocols. Recalling unusual experience, Daruvala said: "We took all required safety precautions and it worked pretty okay. It is what is is.  "You have to be be cautious of your surroundings and take precautions and think that 'you will be fine'. It was an evacuation flight, so re were a lot of procedures. In end, I was here (in London) where I needed to be.  "w I have to figure out how I will be flying to Austria," said Daruvala, who is tipped to become third Indian to reach Formula 1 after Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok.

Daruvala made an instant impact in pre-season testing in Bahrain by topping one of sessions. He kws he needs to build on third place finish in Formula 3 last season but is t reading too much into his performance in Formula 2 pre-season testing.    "It is hard to go by testing results but it went as well as it could. I got used to car quite quickly. Happy that we will be finally racing w."

For first two months into lockdown, Daruvala got much-needed time with family in Mumbai. And when he needed to get into preparation mode, he was able to reach London.  Asked how forced break affected him mentally, Daruvala said: "To be honest, t too bad. It is same for everyone, it is a worldwide crisis and all you can do is prepare mentally and that is what I did.  "I have also been working hard on my fitness. Just can't wait  to get to racing w. It is time to prepare for season. w that I am done with self quarantine, I will be going to team workshop and visit Red Bull factory."

Daruvala ackwledged added pressure going into his rookie Formula 2 season. 

"w that I am one step away from Formula 1, it does change things a bit.  re is added pressure that if you perform well, re is a possibility of reaching Formula 1. That is always re at back of mind. 

" goal has always been to be in Formula 1. So, I rar focus on doing well, win races and see how season pans out," he said before adding that he should be back to his best by round one.

Im credits: AP