Sauber says Kobayashi ready to lead team
15 October, 2010
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) BMW Sauber C29. Formula One World Championship, Rd 16, Japanese Grand Prix, Qualifying Day, Suzuka, Japan, Saturday 9 October 2010.
Oct.15 (GMM) Peter Sauber has admitted his ideal driver constellation would be a promising young rookie alongside a steadier hand.
Kamui fans will agree with Peter Sauber's thoughts
Presently, the Swiss team’s lineup is fiery Japanese newcomer Kamui Kobayashi next to the dependable veteran of 169 grands prix Nick Heidfeld.
But the latter German is currently searching for a job for 2011, after Sauber signed the Telmex-sponsored Mexican GP2 driver Sergio Perez.
“We think he has great potential and is very fast,” Sauber said at his team’s Hinwil headquarters this week, where the 20-year-old Perez was having his first seat fitting.
“But of course there are no guarantees,” admitted the 67-year-old.
Kamui at Suzuka
According to the Swiss daily Blick, Sauber was asked whether sitting two young newcomers in next year’s C30s is too great a risk for the team still recovering from the loss of BMW ownership.
“It would be better to have an experienced driver beside a younger one,” he admitted, “but Kobayashi has matured and next year can take over the role of team leader.”
Kobayashi made his Grand Prix debut last year in Brazil for the now defunct Toyota F1 team. He was recruited by Sauber for 2010 and has entrenched himself in the team this season, having scored 21 points and lies 12th in the championship points table.
Related posts:
- Sauber axe was painful admits De la Rosa
- Kobayashi hailed as hero of Japanese GP
- Kobayashi: My dad has a sushi restaurant
- Sauber unimpressed with de la Rosa
- Sauber applies to drop BMW from name
