Kamui Kobayashi

Kobayashi seeking sponsorship to stay in F1

Greater Noida: Kamui Kobayashi's future with the Sauber Formula One team will not depend on whatever new sponsorship money he might raise, team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said on Friday.

Without saying whether the Japanese would be staying or leaving next season, Kaltenborn reminded reporters at the Indian Grand Prix that the Swiss team was fully aware he had no financial backers when they hired him in 2010.

"If you look back when we took him up, also then people criticised us for that decision and everyone knew that he's not got any sponsorship package at all so nothing's changed on that," she told reporters.

Kobayashi, who took third place at his home Japanese Grand Prix this month, faces an uncertain future with Germany's Nico Hulkenberg tipped to move from Force India while Mexican Esteban Gutierrez looks likely to replace departing compatriot Sergio Perez. Perez, who is moving to McLaren in 2013, has had three podium finishes to Kobayashi's one this season and has scored 16 points more....more    

First podium finish for Kamui Kobayashi at Japanese GP

Suzuka: Third place felt like a victory for Kamui Kobayashi as he celebrated his first Formula One podium finish in front of home fans who had only once before witnessed such an event on Japanese soil. Only the third of his countrymen to stand on a grand prix podium, and first since Takuma Sato was third at the 2004 U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, the Sauber driver had an army...  

Red Bull's Vettel wins Japanese GP 2012

Suzuka: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the Japanese Grand Prix from pole on Sunday to close within four points of the top of the Formula One championship standings as leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari crashed out of the race at the first turn. Vettel, who also won the previous race in Singapore, is moving within sight of a third straight title " something only previously achieved by Juan-Manuel Fangio...  

Button takes pole position for Belgian GP

Spa, Belgium: British driver Jenson Button will start Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix in pole position after finishing fastest in Saturday's qualifying, with defending champion Sebastian Vettel in 11th. Button overcame balance problems to take his first pole of the season, the eighth of his career, and his first for McLaren. "It's been quite a long time since I got my last pole position, back in 2009 in Monaco. It's been...  

Kobayashi tops Practice 1 at Belgium GP

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium: Ferrari's Formula One championship leader Fernando Alonso lapped more than 29 seconds off the pace in a rain-lashed and meaningless first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday. Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi ended up with his name on top of the timing screens after a fastest lap of two minutes 11.389 seconds but the Japanese was among a small minority to get into double figures with his...  

British GP: Kobayashi fined for injuring pit crew

Silverstone: Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi has been fined by race stewards after injuring three mechanics during a pit stop in Sunday's British Grand Prix. The FIA says the $31,000 fine is because the "very dangerous maneuver ... had potentially serious implications." Kobayashi braked too late while pitting on lap 37 and crashed into the pit crew preparing to change his front right tire. Sauber says two mechanics were taken to...