HRT folded at the end of last season for financial reasons, leaving the grid with only 11 teams this year. The Spanish team did not score a point in its three seasons on the circuit.

Formula One regulations specify that a minimum of ten teams and twenty cars are mandatory.

It was announced last month that the owners of the Spanish Formula One team are in talks with a number of companies and have put the team up for sale. This after the team, founded in 2010, failed to collect points in any of its three seasons.

HRT's owners Thesan Capital had earlier this week said they were in talks with potential buyers for the team, which has yet to win a point in three F1 seasons.

The management hopes to conclude sales in the weeks to come. An official announcement will be made about the new owners subsequently.

"We all are very close if you take these three out of the equation. Narain is a very strong driver and terribly underrated," says the Spaniard.

The pressure on the Indian driver may increase further after Sahara Force India denied having eyes on him for the next season.

Tata Tea, a brand of the Tata Global Beverages (TGB), on Thursday announced association with Indian racer Narain Karthikeyan and his HRT Formula One team for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix as well as the next month's Indian Grand Prix.

India's only F1 racer at the moment, Narain Karthikeyan is hopeful of retaining his seat in HRT for the 2013 season with some strong showings in the upcoming Asian races.

Ma Qing Hua will become the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One when he lines up for the HRT team in Friday's opening practice session for the Italian Grand Prix.