‘The drivers are here’: India’s next generation of racers dream of a breakthrough in F1
The next generation of Indian racers dreams of a breakthrough in F1 In a country dominated by cricket, motorsport continues to fight for attention. For young Indian racers, reaching Formula 1 remains the ultimate ambition, but the journey to the top comes with financial constraints, limited opportunities and off-track sacrifices.For Saishiva Sankaran and Viswas Vijayaraj, the journey began with a childhood love for cars and racing. In an interview with the Tech Word News during the Indian Racing Festival, which returned to the Buddh International Circuit after 13 years, the two drivers spoke about their careers, the demands of competing against international competitors and what it takes to pursue a career in motorsport in India.
From karting in Pune to the Indian Racing League
Saishiva Sankaran started racing when he was eight years old. His interest in cars led him to go-karting at a small facility in Kharadi, Pune, where he began competing in four-stroke go-karts. He won his first race before switching to two-stroke karts, gaining experience in several championships working with teams like M-Sport and Kamehko Kartopia in Bengaluru.He progressed from karting to single-seater racing before moving to the F2000 championship and finally the Indian Racing League, representing Kolkata Royal Tigers.“It has been a long journey of 10 years, starting from the ground up. I would like to thank my family and friends for making this possible,” Sankaran said.Vijayaraj, who represents Chennai Turbo Riders in the Indian Racing League, was motivated by his childhood interest in cars and racing. Representing India at the highest level remains a major part of his ambition.“It’s not just about choosing Indian motorsport, it’s about the love for cars and the love for sports that I have had since childhood. Being from India, of course I need to represent my country at the highest level,” Vijayaraj said.
Victims of a career in motorsport
Balancing racing with education and personal life has been one of the biggest challenges for Sankaran. Racing calendars can leave young riders with little time for school, college and family, especially as the season begins.“There’s a lot missing from the school side these days and a lot missing from the college side. These events aren’t like tennis or cricket where you have to train every day. But when the season starts, it’s quite hectic,” he explained.Preparation continues even if it is out of range.“On the other hand, there’s a lot of training and diet restrictions. And I also train a lot on the simulator. When I’m off the track, I basically train on the simulator and try to improve for the season,” he added.
Limited testing, learning from international drivers
Competing against international drivers in the Indian Racing League gave Sankaran the opportunity to learn from racers with experience in different circuits and conditions.“I also learn a lot from the international riders. These guys have raced everywhere and in different conditions, while I was limited mostly to India,” he said.“But there’s a lot I’ve learned from these guys that’s helped me push myself and get on the podium,” he added.Vijayaraj pointed out the difference in testing opportunities for Indian and international riders. While overseas racers often have regular track time, Indian racers have to work with much more limited training schedules.“We have very limited testing in India, unlike the international riders who have already been on track almost every day or most days of the week. We only get to do it a few days a month,” said Vijayaraj.He believes that Indian riders can still compete with their international counterparts despite the difference in preparation time.“For us, racing against them is a huge learning curve. It doesn’t mean we’ve really matched them. We’re on par with them. Learning from them and then competing against them, or even winning against them, is always the best feeling, especially with the minimal amount of training we have,” he added.
Financial security remains an obstacle on the way to F1
Going through the junior racing categories and getting closer to Formula 1 requires a significant financial background. Vijayaraj acknowledged that the financial realities of the sport, along with age, can make it difficult for drivers to progress further.“Formula 1 is always a dream. But sometimes when age catches up or reality hits, it’s really hard because we struggle with finances and everything. That’s the only support we don’t get,” Vijayaraj said.He believes that India already has riders capable of competing at a higher level, but needs to do more to support them.“There are a lot of experienced and really good Indian riders who are capable of representing India at the highest possible level in the world. The riders are here. You can see them on the grid right now. They just need enough support from the country to represent India at the international level,” he added.Meanwhile, Sankaran is looking at the next steps in his career. After racing in Indian F4 last year, he wants to progress through the junior categories and eventually make it to Formula 1. He is also looking for sponsors and brands willing to support his ambitions.“So I’m trying to go up and get on the F1 ladder. Obviously next year I’m looking for sponsors and brands to invest in me and be my face when I reach F1. So the main goal is F1,” Sankaran said.The youngster is also a big admirer of Max Verstappen, whose aggressive driving style influenced his interest in Formula 1.“I’m a big fan of Max Verstappen. And I took his number. Number 33 every time I race, I love him. I love his driving style, his aggressiveness since I started watching him. And he’s the main reason I started watching as well,” concluded Sankaran.
Buddh International Circuit: A special return for Indian racers
The race returned to the Buddh International Circuit after 13 years, giving Indian drivers the opportunity to compete at the country’s only Formula 1 circuit. Vijayaraj’s weekend brought back memories of watching some of the sport’s biggest names race at the venue.He had previously raced at the circuit during the 2019 National Championship. Coming back after six years was a special experience.“Walking through the pits and stuff like that, it’s like picking up memories from TV of places where the greatest drivers like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have walked and raced here,” he said.“Being here is the best feeling an Indian rider could ever have. Coming back here after six years is the best feeling. It’s like bringing back all the memories and reliving them.”Vijayaraj also believes that the return of Formula 1 to India could generate more interest in motorsport and open up opportunities for local drivers.“Bringing Formula 1 back to India right now would be three times better than what it was then. We have a lot of Indian fans who follow the racing series. Bringing Formula 1 back would be a huge boost for the whole country and could create a lot of opportunities and championships in the future,” he added.
Aryan Narola, Ruhaan Alva at the Indian Racing Festival weekend
The Indian Racing Festival concluded its two-day leg at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida on 1 November 2026, with Aryan Narola and Ruhaan Alva emerging as standout performers in the Indian F4 Championship and the Indian Racing League (IRL).Narola, representing Goa Aces JA Racing, secured a double win in the two F4 races on Sunday. He finished ahead of Aris Kyriakou and Ntiyiso Mabunda in the first race and beat Arjun Chheda and Mabunda in the second.Alva of Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru won the second IRL race after taking advantage of Shane Chanderia’s car problems. Mohamed Ryan of Hyderabad Blackbirds finished second, Malaysian Alister Yoong of Speed Demons Delhi secured third place.The action started on Saturday with the opening IRL and F4 races. Goa Aces JA Racing’s Raoul Hyman won the opening IRL race in 27:40.759, with Kolkata Royal Tigers’ Saishiva Sankaran second in 27:55.806 and Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru’s Jemma Moore third in 27:56.070.In the opening F4 race, Speed Demons Delhi’s Ntiyiso Mabunda won in 32:46.842, followed by fellow South African Luwiw Sambudla of Goa Aces JA Racing in second and Aryan Narola in third.Sunday’s second IRL race saw Alva win, Mohamed Ryan second and Alister Yoong third.