Kamui Kobayashi: The goal is to regain our early-season pace

Kamui, compared to your teammate Sergio Perez, you struggled in qualifying. Do you feel under pressure?

« Well, I think qualifications are an important thing, but it’s not everything. Sometimes you agree to start from 18th place because you know you’ll have an advantage in the race. So you always have to judge that carefully. I mean, last year, qualifications were much more important, but this year, it’s not as important anymore. Sometimes, we prefer to focus on race settings. Of course, people focus on qualifications—and I admit I need to improve there—but honestly, my main goal is the race. And the points I’ve earned prove that I’m right. »

Last season, you outperformed two veteran teammates, Pedro de la Rosa and Nick Heidfeld. Perez seems to be a bit more challenging. Is that inspiring or annoying?

« This year is completely different because of the tires. Last year, it was more difficult to be better than the experienced guys because they had their experience with Bridgestone tires. This year, we started at the same level of tire knowledge, so it’s easier for a rookie to set good times. The Pirellis are a kind of equalizer this season. »

Sauber started the season well before struggling recently. Why?

« It was a bit difficult mid-season with the rule change. We were very strong at the beginning of the season but suffered from the change. And unfortunately, even after re-adapting, it was impossible to regain our initial form. These comings and goings are a bit irritating and have caused us to suffer. I think we are now on the path to stabilizing our performance and regaining the early season rhythm. I know we have some potential and once we fully understand the issue, we will be able to resolve it. »

How does an ambitious driver react after scoring only 2 points in the last 5 races?

Yes, it’s a big problem for us—not just for me. We scored a lot of points at the beginning of the season, but recently, we’ve suffered from the rule changes. I continue to believe that we will have the chance to fight again in what I call ‘the second group’ of teams in the championship and achieve good results. We are not the fastest of these teams—but a consistent team—and that is a very important quality.

Force India is just behind Sauber in the standings. Can we expect some new parts?

« This weekend, we will have a few, but there is more to come in the future, which I hope will allow us to regain our initial pace. I think it will be good if we avoid making mistakes and if we optimize our potential during the race. »

How crucial is this weekend? You are ahead of Force India by just three points…

« To be honest, it’s not one of my favorite tracks. The Force Indias were fast at Spa, and my opinion is that they will be even more so here. Of course, that doesn’t mean we should give up, but there are definitely tracks that suit us better, like Suzuka. I don’t think Singapore will be a good race for them either. I think we will be better there. But I think Monza will be good for them just as Spa was. We will have to find a better pace this weekend, and it’s between them and us for the sixth place. »

A gearbox problem prevented you from taking part in the race last year. So you want to do better here this season…

« Definitely better. I want to finish the race – as Monza is a very exciting track. Sure, scoring points would be fantastic, but just finishing would be 100% better than my race in 2010. »

What can you say about the upcoming season? How does the future look for you?

« Of course, what concerns your own future is important, but it’s more important for me to show what I can do. For the moment, I don’t have big plans for the future, but I have big plans for the present. I want to show my true colors, which will give me the best possible ticket for the future. »

Where do you want to finish this season?

« 2010 was my rookie season. Now, I’m in my second year. I want to show that I am more experienced and that I can eliminate the error rate. I think at the end of the day, you need to work well with the team – and with my teammate. I want us to really stick closely together, as results are very often the product of good cooperation and good communication. We probably made some mistakes this season – but if we can just go home with a smile – that would be nice. If we avoid crying. (laughs)»