Force India owner Vijay Mallya has hit back at those who have criticised him for failing to give young Indian drivers opportunities, describing the accusations as "blatantly unfair".
With India due to host their inaugural grand prix in October, Mallya has come under pressure to give an Indian driver a race seat.
The Force India boss, though, is not about to give in to the demands.
"I have been involved in Indian motorsport for over 30 years, and I have done whatever I reasonably could to promote sport in India," said Mallya.
"I take some credit for the fact I put an Indian Formula One team on the grid, something which nobody believed could ever happen.
"So I have done my job for my country, for the hundreds of millions of young, aspirational Indians in terms of Formula One.
"Now to be criticised, largely by the Indian folks, that I don't have an Indian driver is just blatantly unfair.
"My only response to them would be that I know more about Formula One than they do.
"It is why I've launched a one in a billion hunt, a serious effort to really find Indian talent.
"You can't pick up a kid and put him in a Formula One car in a year or two. It's going to take time."
Mallya pointed out that Italian fans don't complain about the lack of Italian drivers at Ferrari.
"There is no nation that is so passionate about its team than Italy," he added.
"Ferrari and Italy, the DNA is almost the same, and yet do Ferrari have Italian drivers?
"If Ferrari is on the podium or wins a race, the whole of Italy applauds and celebrates, yet nobody ever asks the question 'Where is the Italian driver?'
"So why suddenly in India? I say be thankful for the fact you have an Indian team, sporting the Indian colours on the grid to begin with.
"The Indian driver will follow, but let's not put the cart before the horse."
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