18.10.2009
They think it's all over… but not yet
Traditionally in recent years the Brazilian Grand Prix has marked the final race of the season – and Sao Paulo is the perfect place for a party to celebrate.
But this year there is the new race in Abu Dhabi still to come, so the atmosphere around Interlagos was a little different.
Team members still made their annual pilgrimage to the churrascarias – Brazilian beef restaurants where the prime cuts are delivered in an endless stream directly to your plate – but with one race still to go, there were no end-of-season parties.
Instead it was all hands to the pump as Panasonic Toyota Racing fought to close the gap on third place in the Constructors'Championship.
Brazil offers the smallest paddock of the whole Formula 1 season, with the unique exception of Monaco, and team members have to work smartly in the garage to avoid bumping into each other or their equipment.
The same was true in offices, where equipment was stored in every possible space, including kitchen sinks and high above the office space on any unused flat surface.
But if that proved trying at times there was always the consolation that in two weeks the final race of the season will bring the newest paddock in Formula 1, with giant air-conditioned garages promised by organisers.
Mad dash
Third driver Kamui Kobayashi's schedule since the Japanese Grand Prix has seen him really clock up the air miles and culminated in his Grand Prix debut.
After Suzuka, he headed back to Europe to take part in a GP2 Series test for Racing Engineering; a new team for the 23-year-old to get used to. He adapted well though and ended the second day in third fastest.
Having adjusted to a GP2 car again and a new team, he was back on a plane – or three to be exact – to take him to Tokyo and the Motor Sport Japan festival, where he drove a TF108 in front of thousands of passionate fans.
On Sunday in Tokyo it was announced Kamui had a new job; race driver for Panasonic Toyota Racing in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
So, he was straight on another plane to head half way around the world to Sao Paulo. After all that travelling, he could be forgiven for needing a relaxing weekend but with a Grand Prix debut on the horizon, that wasn't likely.
Having watched Jarno and Timo at work from close quarters all season, he had the chance to step into their shoes, which meant a series of engineering meetings as well as media and sponsor commitments – not to mention driving the car!
In the stick of it
Bringing in Kamui as a replacement for Timo was not just a matter of handing him his helmet and letting him hit the track; there were plenty of additional details to be completed in order for Kamui's Grand Prix debut to run smoothly.
Take the garage for example, all season the team has had stickers on the overhead gantry and the floor designating the area for Jarno and Timo.
That would not look right when Timo is recovering back in Germany and Kamui was in the car, so the stickering guys worked flat-out to produce new signs, putting Kamui's name in lights.
There were other areas which needed similar adjustment as well, such as the pit board, while even table reservation signs for media interviews needed hasty updates.
But it was not feasible to personalize every area for Kamui and the tyre warmers still carried Timo's name. After all, buying a whole new set of tyre warmers for what could be just one race weekend is far from efficient.
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