Komeback Kobayashi

On a statement published on his official site, former Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi has announced that he will join Scuderia Ferrari in the FIA owned World Endurance Championship.

Statement:

Maranello, 11 March – Kamui Kobayashi is joining the ranks of Scuderia Ferrari, which makes him the first Asian driver to play his part in the history of the Prancing Horse. The Japanese driver will take part in GT races, competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) thus strengthening the team of drivers on the Ferrari books. His first event will be the Silverstone 6 Hours on 14 April. Kamui was born in 1986 in Amagasaki and made his Formula 1 debut on 18 October 2009 for Toyota, in his home race, in Japan. Driving for Toyota and Sauber, Kobayashi took part in 60 Grands Prix. He scored a total of 125 points and his best result was a podium finish in the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.

“I am pleased to be able to announce today my new role,” said Kobayashi. “It’s an honour for me to become part of the Ferrari family. It will be the first time that I compete in endurance races in a championship featuring GT cars. I can’t wait to start working with AF Corse and I really hope I can aim for the title, along with my team-mates. I will work hard and give my all in this new chapter in my career, knowing I can count on the support of all my fans. I would like to thank Scuderia Ferrari for this opportunity and, finally, would like to dedicate this season’s new adventure to everyone in Japan, who on this very day, commemorate the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit our country.”

The photo on the website shows him shaking hands with Ferrari team boss Stefano  Domenicali, and this can only boost his chances of making an F1 comeback in the future. Hopefully this is the start of something very beautiful as he will be a sorely missed character this year, a driver of his talent should not have been forced out by the size of his bank account.

I'm very glad that I'll have a competition to watch him in. His original plan was to save up enough money to re-enter F1 in 2014, but it's not as simple as taking a year out to fund raise, he's being proactive about the situation, but he also has the sense to keep himself in the spotlight, and he could not have picked a brighter light.

Lotus Don't Know What They're Doing!

Post on Grosjean retaining his drive, Max Chilton becoming the 4th Brit on the grid, Kobayashi's premature departure and a possible convict on the grid?!

"Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing." - Kimi Raikkonen over the radio before winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lotus today published a statement saying Romain Grosjean has been resigned for next season. This photo will prove otherwise:

As you can see, it is noneother than myself driving along side the Kimster next season. Nonetheless, I'll write the blog just as if Goujon (it's funny because he's french) was for driving.

Grosjean to stay at Lotus.

It's the wrong decision. No point of sugar coating it. Aside from all the early race incidents and the attempt on Fernando Alonso's life, Goujon is not a great driver. In fact he's average at best capable of one good over take a season. Of course when you're number 2 and let's be clear, he is a DEFINITE number 2 to Kimi Raikkonen, you're going to look just awful. Lotus have not only taken on a heavy damage bill for next season, but they've over looked so many better suited drivers. I've said it before, but Heikki Kovalainen deserved a step up. After carrying his team for three years he deserves to be set in some powerful machinery. Two Finn's would have been terrific as there is no doubt, they know how to win World Championships. 

However it is not the worst thing in the world. They could have resigned Bruno Senna (reserve driver in 2011). Goujon may improve. And I do believe he's a very good provider of feedback for R&D so his intuition can provide Kimi with some top notch resources. Hopefully that is all Romain will be, a resource. Lotus know how to run a team, and they know as well as I do that Kimi is the undisputed number 1 driver. So long as Goujon knows his place, everything will run smoothly.  

Fourth Brit Chilton.

21 year old Max Chilton has made the step up from reserve driver to a full time seat at Marussia following the departure of Charles Pic to Caterham. He is also British which makes me a very, very happy fan and I'll be supporting him throughout! Usually from all the back markers I supported Caterham just for the funsies, but now I have a genuine reason to support Marussia.

I do have one issue. The guy has never won a championship, and between Formula Three and GP2 he's only bagged three races. I know there's no chance of winning the title in a Marussia, but I have to question his speed and determination if this is all he can muster. 

He could either be a world champion like Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button. Or he may be more of a Paul di Resta character who only wants to win races.

Krazy Kob Krashes out of 2013 season.

Yep sadly Kamikaze Kobayashi will not be on our screens next season in a competitive car due to a lack of funding. He seems confident of a 2014 drive but despite fans setting up a donation site in order to provide funding, it wasn't enough. As previously stated in my debut blog, a seat in Formula 1 is mostly decided on by who can flash the most green. Kamui just didn't have the backing for it.

It's not hard to see why. His Sauber partner Sergio Perez stole the spotlight with an absolute wonder season. This was enough to secure a seat at McLaren, but this was also aided by backing from Mexico. Yep, like Maldonado and Valenzuela, the actual country of Mexico funds Perez through Telmex. Why does this matter to Kobayashi? Well unfortunately for him, Sauber's reserve driver, Esteban Gutierrez is funded by the exact same company effectively filling Kobayashi's seat as Perez was replaced by Nico Hulkenberg who also had a storm of a season. 

I am quite proud of Kamui because he is not settling for anything less than a Sauber. And I believe he may have actually left at a good time. Sauber tend to have one good season followed by a mirage of bad seasons. However this may change under the control of Monisha Kaltenborn.

The grid has lost a great talent for next season, I can't see it being the same without him. But there may be a spot open for him midway through the season where he could just slot right in. It's about keeping his fitness to a maximum and more importantly keeping his health in check.

Thug Life.

Despite what he says, there is no guarantee he will actually be back. It's looking more and more likely and with certain tragedies like Grosjean staying and Kobayashi leaving I think the F1 gods still would like to punish me by putting Sutil back on the grid. If he were to re-join Force India however, this could benefit our Paul as he was a far better drive than Sutil in 2011.

Force India needs somebody different than Sutil. If they are set on getting experience then they need too reward either Kovalinen or Glock with a more powerful racing car. Or to continue from where The Hulk left off, get a speed demon like Kobayashi in the chair.

The grid is definitely taking shape for next season. I look forward to hear more team announcements and gauging my opinions on them.