Force India missed chance - Ecclestone

Force India should have chosen an Indian driver to replace Giancarlo Fisichella when the Italian switched to Ferrari to help boost the build-up for the nation's inaugural grand prix in 2011, Bernie Ecclestone has said.

The F1 supremo was disappointed his friend and Force India team principal Vijay Mallya did not offer the chance to Indian Karun Chandhok, 25, who drives in the GP2 feeder series, instead handing the role to the team's reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi.

"I was hoping Vijay would give Karun a chance," Ecclestone said.

"And I'm a little disappointed that he has put the Italian guy in."

"Whether he has to do this by contract I don't know, but I'd have liked to see Karun in the car for the rest of the season."

Liuzzi will race for the first time since he drove for the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso team in 2007, starting with his home grand prix at Monza on Sunday.

Formula One is having a bumpy ride in India with sports minister Manohar Singh Gill dubbing it more entertainment than sport.

"We need to get Karun in the Formula One car quickly," Ecclestone said.

"And he has got the talent and the ability, so it is a case of somebody just getting on and doing it now."