India may have hosted its first Formula One grand prix in 2011 , but the sport 's future on the sub-continent could be bleak according to one senior official . Vicky Chandhok , president of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India , is the father of Karun Chandhok , one of only two Indian drivers to have competed in F1 . The other is Narain Karthikeyan , who is currently contracted to strugglers HRT . Chandhok told CNN that the increasing need for drivers to attract big-money sponsors has made it harder for talented youngsters to break through , especially with F1 battling to gain a foothold in India 's sporting spectrum . Vettel takes championship lead after third straight win . `` After Narain and Karun , I really ca n't see an Indian driver for the next , I would say , eight to 10 years , '' Chandhok said ahead of this weekend 's Indian Grand Prix . `` Formula One has become all about money ... it never was earlier , you could find a slot with just talent . `` The Formula One teams have decided that even if you 've got talent , let 's have your checkbook as well -- bring in five , 10 , 20 million dollars and let 's give you the seat . '' According to Chandhok , it could take a figure such as legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to spark genuine interest in F1 among India 's 1.2 billion inhabitants . `` India needs heroes , India needs superheroes like Sachin Tendulkar , '' he said . `` Narain and Karun have certainly given the sport , or our sport at least in India , the slot that it desperately needed . Formula One has helped . '' Massa handed new Ferrari contract . Red Bull 's Sebastian Vettel won last year 's inaugural race at the Buddh International Circuit , near New Delhi , but Chandhok fears interest in the event has dipped since then . `` There 's been a massive drop in buzz , I do n't know why , '' he said . `` After the first year , we had a sellout crowd in year one of 95,000 people , but year two there has been a dip . `` I think we will end up with 60,000 spectators in the stands ... ( in India ) nobody 's used to be parked in long queues just waiting to get to a Formula One event , having to find passes -- it 's a very sanitized atmosphere . '' Despite Chandhok predicting a drop in attendance figures , MotorSport magazine 's Ed Foster says 60,000 is still a sizable crowd compared to other dates on the F1 calendar . `` The first year you are always going to get a lot of spectators and a lot of interest , '' he told CNN . `` It needs to be put in perspective as well -- 60,000 spectators is a huge number of spectators . `` Places like South Korea did n't get half of that number . They might not have as many spectators as last year , but they have still got a hell of a lot more than many other race tracks . '' The cheapest ticket for the track over the weekend is $ 61.53 in a country where there is widespread poverty . Foster said the prohibitive ticket prices are a direct result of the millions of dollars which must be paid to host an F1 grand prix . `` It 's a problem all over the world , '' he said . `` You ca n't charge hundreds of pounds for a grandstand seat and then complain you have n't got enough spectators . `` The tickets prices are astronomical . The fees paid to host a grand prix are many millions , so in order to try and recoup some of those funds the tickets prices are high . '' However , Chandhok hopes F1 can develop in India despite the challenges faced by its race organizers . `` I do hope that economically and financially it remains viable , '' he said . `` There is a contract between the GP group and Formula One until 2015 . `` Beyond that I do hope that we can sustain it , and if not maybe F1 will start to change their approach to rights fees and things like that . `` It 's very high at $ 40 million , it 's very high for a country like us , but as we start using the facility that is built for it for other uses , like concerts , national events , I think it will be fantastic to try to make this with a really long-term plan . I gather it will work . ''
Vicky Chandhok tells CNN it could be 10 years until India produces another F1 driver . Chandhok 's son Karun is one of just two Indians to have competed in the sport . HRT 's Narain Karthikeyan is the only Indian driver currently contracted to an F1 team . Sunday 's race at the Buddh International Circuit is the second hosted by India .