Talented young Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi has been retained by Sauber for the 2011 season. The news was released today, when team owner Peter Sauber spoke of how impressed they were with the 24-year old.
“We enjoy having our rookie as part of the team – both as a driver and a person. We never had any doubts about working with him again in 2011,” the team principal said.
“Kamui has definitely fulfilled our expectations in terms of his speed and fighting spirit. Plus, his work with the engineers and his technical understanding has also developed very well. The experience he has built up over his first full season in Formula One will certainly stand him in good stead for 2011. And our aim is to give him a fast and reliable car from the outset next season,” Sauber added.
“We had a very difficult start to the season (DNF in first four races), but we’ve worked together to pull ourselves out of that situation. I feel very much at home in Peter Sauber’s team and am very pleased we’ll be working together again in 2011,” Kobayashi said.
Kobayashi made his F1 debut with Toyota in last year’s Brazilian GP and went on to finish sixth in his second race, the Abu Dhabi GP, impressing both the paddock and F1 fans with his gutsy driving. He has scored 21 points so far this season, 15 points more than more experienced teammate Pedro de la Rosa. And to think that he nearly went home to roll sushi in dad’s restaurant because he didn’t have a race seat!
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
THanks god he made it into F1 and not the fastest man in rolling sushi in the world.
Congrats to Kamui. Mr Sauber does have a knack for spotting talent. He’s brought many top drivers into the game.
definately the best rookie for this season
beat renault vitaly petrov even in a dog car, and manage to outqualify his more experienced teammate..
really wish KIMI join renault…so that can add 1 more world champion in the fight….but he too cowards and only dream to move to red bull racing…..ferrari hv both strong driver, same goes to Mercedes, red bull racing & mclaren…only left 1 place is Renault to replace petrov for more stronger driver like Kimi…or the best rookie, kobayashi…haha
He’s crying
So far Kobayshi has shown that he is more consistent than other previous Japanese drivers in F1.
see his face like bbq-ed prawn oredi.
Good to see Suaber retain him. At least he is currently the only Japanese driver with real talent after Takuma Sato.
Unlike tat other joker Sakon Yamamoto who is paid to drive for Hispania. Japanese companies, how about its time to support Kobayashi for sponsorship????
HRT want toyota help…sure toyota need them MUST put a japanese driver…it jz simple as that….totally same like Lotus racing put M’sian driver as reserve driver…since no way to put him in the 1st / 2nd driver since it backed by govt….then sure place a malay in the seat….F1 is big business game….so they cannot dare to put him 2nd driver…LOSS $$$ for guarantee…it bet alex yoong is far better than fairuz….now & at same age comparison