London: Indian Formula One fans should be proud of their own team rather than bemoaning the lack of homegrown talent on the starting grid, Force India's flamboyant owner Vijay Mallya has told Reuters.
"To be criticised, largely by the Indian folks, that I don't have an Indian driver is I think just blatantly unfair," he said.
"My only response to them would be that I know more about Formula One than they do.
"As far as the existing Indian drivers in Formula One are concerned, I can only feel very sorry for them. They are getting drives by the teams who clearly can't compete...," added Mallya, whose current drivers are German Adrian Sutil and Britain's Paul Di Resta.
In Turkey last May there were, for the first time, two Indian drivers out on track together in Friday practice but Sunday's British Grand Prix starting grid at Silverstone had none.
Narain Karthikeyan was dropped by Hispania to make way for Red Bull-backed Australian debutant Daniel Ricciardo, although the Indian should be back for his country's inaugural grand prix in Delhi at the end of October.
Karun Chandhok, racing with Hispania last season, is now reduced to occasional on Friday drives as a reserve for Team Lotus.
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