Kobayashi aims to perform well in Suzuka after a mixed season

As he prepares to compete in his second home Grand Prix, Kamui Kobayashi reflects on a season that has generally seemed more challenging than the last, even though, after 14 races, the Japanese driver has scored 27 points, compared to 21 in 2010: « We are certainly more competitive than last year. We had a fantastic start to the season in Melbourne, and since then, we’ve had other good races where we’ve been quite competitive. The most notable ones were in Monaco and Montreal. But we also had our problems. In Melbourne, we lost 10 points after being disqualified, then I suffered punctures in Turkey and Barcelona, and later, gearbox issues at Silverstone and more recently at Monza. We can also add the fact that all our technical developments during the season have not brought us the expected progress. So far, it’s been a mixed season with ups and downs. »

The Japanese driver made a name for himself at the start of his career and last season, with his keen sense of attacking, which is paradoxically less emphasized this season, due to the DRS and KERS, which have exponentially increased overtaking. In 2010, the Japanese driver literally showcased his talent on the F1 world stage during the Japanese Grand Prix, almost single-handedly ensuring the race’s spectacle. He achieved his best result of the season there, on a Suzuka circuit that he was rediscovering for the first time since 2003 – except for the Friday free practice he participated in two years ago for Toyota: « It was our best result of the 2010 season. I finished seventh while my teammate at the time, Nick Heidfeld, finished in eighth place. Before that, I had very little experience at Suzuka, and I was a rookie in F1, so I hope I can achieve a better result this season. »

For this, the Sauber driver hopes to rely on the new features brought by the Hinwil team and thinks that Japanese fans will witness a great Grand Prix: « I think that with DRS and KERS, there is a good chance that spectators will see a great show again, and it will also be the perfect place for the drivers’ world championship to be decided. It’s a real racing circuit, the karaoke sessions are legendary, and once again, it will be a positive showcase for Japan. »

Kobayashi, very involved after the Japanese archipelago was hit by a series of disasters this season, the most famous being the Fukushima nuclear accident, believes that Formula One is welcome in his country, which is still recovering: « After the news we received in March about the disaster went from bad to worse, I think the way the country has bounced back is impressive: it’s because Japan received a lot of help from outside and because the Japanese are very strong people, and they have given each other a lot of help and support. Of course, the road is still long, but the progress has been remarkable. The Grand Prix is a very big event, it’s something very positive for the people and for the country, and also for the international aura that the race offers. It makes people happy, and they appreciate Formula One a lot. So, we are going to race there, as we have done in recent years, despite the tragedy that hit the country.