Kamui Kobayashi will race on in Formula 1 next year after signing a deal with the Sauber team for 2010.
The Japanese made a strong impression during two outings for Toyota in the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix this year - earning respect for the way he battled with Jenson Button in both events.
His performances had appeared to have been enough to secure him a ride with the Toyota team for 2010, but those plans were scuppered when the Japanese manufacturer pulled out of F1.
However, following weeks of talks, Kobayashi has concluded a deal with Sauber to join the team that is taking over from BMW's operations.
Speaking about the move, Kobayashi said: "Ever since the start of my career I have dreamed of racing in Formula 1. Now this dream has come true.
"I am very happy that my two races in 2009 have earned me a cockpit place. I will do my very best for Peter Sauber’s team and I am proud to be able to carry on flying the Japanese flag in Formula 1."
Sauber boss Peter Sauber said his decision had been fuelled by the fact that Kobayashi made such a strong showing in the last two races of the year - despite not having sat in an F1 car for several months before that.
"I’m very much looking forward to working together with Kamui," said Sauber.
"In the final two Grand Prix of last season he was granted an unexpected chance to show his skills, and he made impressive use of it.
"Particularly in the Abu Dhabi race he demonstrated not only that he can drive fast and aggressively, but also his ability to successfully implement a strategy. I am convinced he has a great deal of potential and will be able to make the most of it in our team."
Kobayashi revealed after Abu Dhabi that if he did not land a race seat in F1 for next year his lack of funding would probably mean he would have to return home to Japan to work in his father’s sushi restaurant.
News from Formula One in the Formation Lap.
Showing posts with label Kobayashi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kobayashi. Show all posts
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Howett: Kobayashi a contender for 2010
Toyota team boss John Howett says that Kamui Kobayashi has definitely moved himself into contention for a 2010 race seat following his impressive Formula 1 debut in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Japanese driver finished 10th despite a lack of preparation, and caught the eye with a tough wheel to wheel battle with eventual champion Jenson Button and a late pass on Ferrari's Giancarlo Fisichella.
Toyota remains at the centre of the driver market at present, with current drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock both uncertain of their futures and Howett openly admitting that the team is pursuing Kimi Raikkonen.
He says Kobayashi can now be added to that shortlist following his Interlagos performance.
"He did a fairly good job I think," said Howett. "He got past Fisi with a really good overtaking move and did a really good job to defend against Button and retake it a couple of times. Very impressive for a debut.
When asked if that meant Kobayashi was in line for a 2010 seat, Howett replied: "We have to look, but on this performance you have to say you've got to give him serious consideration."
But while praising Kobayashi, he did acknowledge that his lack of experience still showed in race conditions.
"He was still a little bit off the pace," said Howett. "He was struggling to keep the tyre to its peak and really hold it there."
During the Interlagos weekend Trulli said that he had promised team chairman Tadashi Yamashina that he would not make any decisions about his 2010 plans until after Toyota's crucial board meeting on 15 November, when the parent company will make a final decision about the team's participation next season and its budget.
Howett said he was not aware of this arrangement or of any change in Trulli's prospects of a 2010 drive.
"I don't know if they've spoken or not. I have a fairly close connection with Yamashina-san. I've read it in the press, but I don't know what the discussion was," he said.
"All I know is the position of Toyota towards Jarno: that we don't exclude the possibility [of retaining him], but there need to be one or two issues that we get straight."
The Japanese driver finished 10th despite a lack of preparation, and caught the eye with a tough wheel to wheel battle with eventual champion Jenson Button and a late pass on Ferrari's Giancarlo Fisichella.
Toyota remains at the centre of the driver market at present, with current drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock both uncertain of their futures and Howett openly admitting that the team is pursuing Kimi Raikkonen.
He says Kobayashi can now be added to that shortlist following his Interlagos performance.
"He did a fairly good job I think," said Howett. "He got past Fisi with a really good overtaking move and did a really good job to defend against Button and retake it a couple of times. Very impressive for a debut.
When asked if that meant Kobayashi was in line for a 2010 seat, Howett replied: "We have to look, but on this performance you have to say you've got to give him serious consideration."
But while praising Kobayashi, he did acknowledge that his lack of experience still showed in race conditions.
"He was still a little bit off the pace," said Howett. "He was struggling to keep the tyre to its peak and really hold it there."
During the Interlagos weekend Trulli said that he had promised team chairman Tadashi Yamashina that he would not make any decisions about his 2010 plans until after Toyota's crucial board meeting on 15 November, when the parent company will make a final decision about the team's participation next season and its budget.
Howett said he was not aware of this arrangement or of any change in Trulli's prospects of a 2010 drive.
"I don't know if they've spoken or not. I have a fairly close connection with Yamashina-san. I've read it in the press, but I don't know what the discussion was," he said.
"All I know is the position of Toyota towards Jarno: that we don't exclude the possibility [of retaining him], but there need to be one or two issues that we get straight."
Monday, 19 October 2009
Toyota lauds 'impressive' Kobayashi
Toyota team boss Tadashi Yamashina was delighted with Kamui Kobayashi's hard-charging drive in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The debutant belied his total lack of Formula 1 racing experience to run in the top 10 early on, resolutely fending off world championship leader Jenson Button for the first 24 laps.
He lost ground as others ran longer before their pit stops, but fought back in the closing laps to take 10th from Giancarlo Fisichella's Ferrari with a determined late dive.
Yamashina reckoned Kobayashi has already made a big mark on F1 and marked himself out as a spectacular racer.
"He did a really good job, especially on a track he has never raced on before and after the difficult conditions earlier in the weekend," said the team chairman.
"As we have come to expect from him, he battled really hard and also put on an exciting show for the fans.
"It was particularly impressive to see him overtaking another car at the end of a hard race and I am proud of his efforts."
Kobayashi was also pleased, but admitted that the 71-lap race had been physically harder than he expected.
"It was a tough race for me," he said.
"As this was my grand prix debut I experienced a lot of things for the first time in Formula 1, so it was a learning experience.
"Physically it felt like a really long race and it was quite tough."
He was slightly disappointed not to stay in touch with the front-runners.
"My first target was to finish the race and I am pleased to achieve that, but after the start I was in a decent position to score points so I am a little disappointed I didn't," he said.
"The car felt good in the first stint but when I changed tyres the balance felt a different and I was struggling a bit; probably this was just down to experience.
"It was my first race so there are several areas to improve but overall I am happy with how I have performed this weekend and I would like to thank the team for all its support."
The only low point of Kobayashi's race was when his defensive tactics wiped the front wing off his countryman Kazuki Nakajima's Williams and sent the latter crashing into the barriers.
"We were having a good race until the accident, so I’m disappointed it ended this way," said Nakajima.
The debutant belied his total lack of Formula 1 racing experience to run in the top 10 early on, resolutely fending off world championship leader Jenson Button for the first 24 laps.
He lost ground as others ran longer before their pit stops, but fought back in the closing laps to take 10th from Giancarlo Fisichella's Ferrari with a determined late dive.
Yamashina reckoned Kobayashi has already made a big mark on F1 and marked himself out as a spectacular racer.
"He did a really good job, especially on a track he has never raced on before and after the difficult conditions earlier in the weekend," said the team chairman.
"As we have come to expect from him, he battled really hard and also put on an exciting show for the fans.
"It was particularly impressive to see him overtaking another car at the end of a hard race and I am proud of his efforts."
Kobayashi was also pleased, but admitted that the 71-lap race had been physically harder than he expected.
"It was a tough race for me," he said.
"As this was my grand prix debut I experienced a lot of things for the first time in Formula 1, so it was a learning experience.
"Physically it felt like a really long race and it was quite tough."
He was slightly disappointed not to stay in touch with the front-runners.
"My first target was to finish the race and I am pleased to achieve that, but after the start I was in a decent position to score points so I am a little disappointed I didn't," he said.
"The car felt good in the first stint but when I changed tyres the balance felt a different and I was struggling a bit; probably this was just down to experience.
"It was my first race so there are several areas to improve but overall I am happy with how I have performed this weekend and I would like to thank the team for all its support."
The only low point of Kobayashi's race was when his defensive tactics wiped the front wing off his countryman Kazuki Nakajima's Williams and sent the latter crashing into the barriers.
"We were having a good race until the accident, so I’m disappointed it ended this way," said Nakajima.
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