Best Japanese F1 driver?
Kamui Kobayashi joined the Sauber team for the 2010 Formula 1 season. His teammate was Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa in the new Sauber C29. The photo above shows Kobayashi, very spectacular on the curbs of the chicanes, during the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix.
The Japanese driver scored his first 2010 point in Turkey, then finished seventh in Valencia, sixth at Silverstone, ninth in Germany, and eighth at Spa. A promising start with the Swiss team.
While de la Rosa was replaced by Nick Heidfeld from Singapore onwards, Kobayashi was shining in Japan and finished seventh after spectacularly overtaking his teammate.
Kobayashi finished eighth in Korea and tenth in Brazil, and his season total stood at 32 points, prompting the famous television commentator Murray Walker to declare: “He is without a doubt the best Japanese driver seen so far in F1.” Martin Brundle added: “He has a rather extraordinary ability to brake extremely late, and to execute his overtaking maneuvers successfully.”
Kamui Kobayashi made 75 Formula 1 starts for the Toyota, BMW Sauber, Sauber, and Caterham teams, scored 125 championship points, and achieved a podium finish at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix in a Sauber. Arguably the best Japanese driver in F1 history.
Kobayashi then distinguished himself in endurance racing with Toyota and won the FIA World Championship twice, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021 and the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 and 2020.
