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Bernie Ecclestone says he is disappointed that Force India did not give its vacant seat to Indian GP2 driver Karun Chandhok.

Vijay Mallya's squad promoted reserve driver Tonio Liuzzi to the race drive made available by Giancarlo Fisichella's switch to Ferrari from Monza onwards.

But Ecclestone believes the team should have picked Chandhok, who is in his third season of GP2.

"I was hoping Vijay would give Karun a chance," Ecclestone told the Hindustan Times. "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 would've liked to see Karun in the car for rest of the season."

The Formula 1 commercial rights holder is keen to get Chandhok on the grid to help build interest in the sport in India ahead of the nation's first grand prix in 2011.

"We need to get Karun in the Formula 1 car quickly," said Ecclestone, "and he has got the talent and the ability, so it's a case of somebody just getting on and doing it now."

Chandhok was a race winner in GP2 with iSport last season but has had a more difficult time with the Ocean team this year, with a third place at Silverstone his only podium finish to date.