Chandhok sees three chances of F1 drive next year

India's Karun Chandhok [ Images ] says he has a real chance of racing in Formula One next year after talks with all the new teams due to enter.

"My father, our sponsors, advisors and I have been quite busy at following the driver market in F1 and making sure we're talking to the right people," the 25-year-old Chennai-born driver said on his website on Wednesday.

"But it's a very complicated time in F1 with a lot of unknowns. We've met with all the new teams and some of the existing ones to explore options for 2010.

"At the moment, I would say there are still three very realistic possibilities to race in Formula One next year but I don't think anything will be public for a few more weeks," he added.

Formula One is due to expand from the 10 teams this year to 13 teams in 2010, despite the departure of Toyota [ Images ] and BMW-Sauber.

Of the new teams, only Spain's Campos Meta has so far named a driver -- Chandhok's former GP2 team mate, Brazilian Bruno Senna.

"Of the 26 pieces in the F1 driver puzzle there are only maybe 10 that are in place so there's still a lot up in the air and I am still optimistic that something will work out," said Chandhok, who has won two races in GP2 and tested for Red Bull's Formula One team in 2007.

Silverstone-based Force India [ Images ], owned by Indian tycoon and family friend Vijay Mallya [ Images ], has given Chandhok time in the McLaren [ Images ] simulator as part of an agreement with that team.

Swiss-born racer Neel Jani, who has an Indian father, has also been observed.

Force India have yet to confirm their 2010 line-up but are expected to stick with Germany's [ Images ] Adrian Sutil [ Images ] and Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, who was the reserve until compatriot Giancarlo Fisichella [ Images ] went to Ferrari [ Images ] in September.

The team will be taking part in young driver testing in Spain in December and that could be an opportunity for Chandhok to try out their car. A Force India spokeswoman said nothing has been decided, however.

India's only Formula One driver to date was Narain Karthikeyan [ Images ] with Jordan in 2005.