Official: Kobayashi and Ericsson Caterham Drivers in 2014!

The rumors had been growing more persistent for days, and the official announcement came today: Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson will be the two main drivers for the Caterham team in 2014.

For the Japanese driver, it’s an almost unexpected return to Formula 1 after being sidelined by Sauber at the end of 2012 due to lack of funding. Scoring a podium at his national Grand Prix that same year, Kobayashi, with his 60 races contested over 4 seasons (including two races for Toyota in 2009), is the experienced driver sought by Caterham and Cyril Abiteboul. The driver is, of course, thrilled to make his comeback: “It’s a great feeling to be back as an F1 driver and I am really happy that it is with Caterham. We have been talking with Cyril and Tony since last year about driving for the team in 2014 and beyond. Throughout our discussions, I have been very impressed with their vision and the investment they are making to help the team achieve its goals. For me, it’s a great honor that the team has hired me based on the value I can bring in terms of experience. I will do my best to lead the team in the right direction and work as hard as possible to achieve our objectives.”

Beside him, the team chose to line up Marcus Ericsson, relatively unknown to the general public and a participant since 2010 in the GP2 championship where he collected several honorable positions. In 2013, he participated in this championship with the French team DAMS and finished in 6th place overall with a victory in Germany. In 2009, he participated in a test session at the wheel of the Brawn GP, with no follow-up. The young Swede is aware of the opportunity he has been given: « It is a day of great pride for me and for everyone who helped make F1 my dream. I am already excited about the upcoming season, and the first race in Australia in particular. It’s obviously a great day for Sweden too because we will finally have a Swedish driver on the grid in 2014. This is what I have been working towards since I started karting at nine years old, and now I know that I am ready for the step into F1. Caterham is a young team and together, we can take on the challenge of the new regulations in 2014, learn together and continue to develop as the season progresses. »

For his part, Cyril Abiteboul, the team’s sporting director, is convinced that he has made the right choice for this year: “We are very happy to allow Kamui to make his return to Formula 1. He is a popular driver, and we are very pleased to have attracted such a talented driver to Caterham at a crucial development period for the team. His pace speaks for itself, and his extensive experience in developing single-seaters, especially during his time at Toyota, will be extremely important for us as we embark on one of the toughest seasons Formula 1 has ever undertaken.”

Beside him, Marcus will make his debut in Formula 1. But he is a driver who has perfectly prepared himself to reach this level with successes at every stage.

Robin Frijns, defector from Sauber, has also been confirmed as the third driver for the team in 2014.

The appointment of Kobayashi and Ericsson thus ends, definitively or not, the presence of Charles Pic and Giedo Van der Garde on the starting grids in 2014. Both drivers are paying for their lack of results in 2013 despite some good qualifications and have not managed to gather a substantial enough budget to keep their place against Ericsson. Charles Pic could, however, bounce back at Lotus as a reserve driver.

Note that Kobayashi has chosen number 10 for the rest of his career, while Ericsson has chosen number 9.