FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[texasmr2]

Kobayashi is hardly a bottom driver. He's the top scoring rookie and he's certainly not in the best car of all the rookies. If driver skill was equal he should have been outscored by more people than he did. He's made some great overtaking moves, race strategies and put a car in or close to q3 when it really isn't fast enough to be there

[Four mules as one]

I'd like to see Kobayashi in Sauber for one more year to learn and also play the underdog role with some brilliant overtaking moves. But he would be crazy to change teams for 2011 because there will be a lot more available for 2012 with drivers contracts coming up for renewal.

But he needs to change teams, otherwise he may become like Adrian Sutil who seems to be kind of stuck in the top of the midfield. Jaques Villeneuve once said, drivers who are stuck in this level of competition never really know, or forget in a sense, how to win and this can hamper their performance when they are put into a top level team. Compare this to drivers like Hamilton and Vettel who dominate from the first practice session because they are put into very competitive cars straight away. So hopefully Kobayashi will be in a top team for 2012 so he can become a true contender. I think he definitely has the talent and will bring a huge fan base if he does.

[Robert12010]

I'd like to see Kobayashi in Sauber for one more year to learn and also play the underdog role with some brilliant overtaking moves. But he would be crazy to change teams for 2011 because there will be a lot more available for 2012 with drivers contracts coming up for renewal.

But he needs to change teams, otherwise he may become like Adrian Sutil who seems to be kind of stuck in the top of the midfield. Jaques Villeneuve once said, drivers who are stuck in this level of competition never really know, or forget in a sense, how to win and this can hamper their performance when they are put into a top level team. Compare this to drivers like Hamilton and Vettel who dominate from the first practice session because they are put into very competitive cars straight away. So hopefully Kobayashi will be in a top team for 2012 so he can become a true contender. I think he definitely has the talent and will bring a huge fan base if he does.

it would be great for japanese motorsport and formula1 as a whole

[The_Stig_Money]

He is definetly a driver to watch in the next coming years

Aggresive, great overtaker, and not intimitaded by any driver (damn those blue flags)

[What's Burning?]

I think for next year he is EXACTLY where he needs to be for now, Sauber's got an influx of cash and if they manage to turn that cash into progress with the car, he'll be on the podium next year some way, some how that's what he's shown to be capable of. He and the team are a dark horse next year.

[f1ea]

I think for next year he is EXACTLY where he needs to be for now, Sauber's got an influx of cash and if they manage to turn that cash into progress with the car, he'll be on the podium next year some way, some how that's what he's shown to be capable of. He and the team are a dark horse next year.

(more or less)
Kobayashi is good. But in my case, i dont see what's the big huge fuss. He's in a good decent team, so he's allowed to show what he can do, he's brave and pulls some bold moves; but a better seat than Sauber? what... a Mclaren?? get real. not yet. Perhaps he'll serve as a way to bring Japan back into this thing.

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

[Robert12010]

I think for next year he is EXACTLY where he needs to be for now, Sauber's got an influx of cash and if they manage to turn that cash into progress with the car, he'll be on the podium next year some way, some how that's what he's shown to be capable of. He and the team are a dark horse next year.

(more or less)
Kobayashi is good. But in my case, i dont see what's the big huge fuss. He's in a good decent team, so he's allowed to show what he can do, he's brave and pulls some bold moves; but a better seat than Sauber? what... a Mclaren?? get real. not yet. Perhaps he'll serve as a way to bring Japan back into this thing.

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

im sure they will be more consistent in the first half of next season and continue the form that they had for the second half of this season, but sadly i think a podium is unlikely

[What's Burning?]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

[Big Azza]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

Kobayashi is at his best if he qualifies 11th. If he's in the top 10, would he sacrifice a higher qualifying position to start the race on hards?

[Robert12010]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

Kobayashi is at his best if he qualifies 11th. If he's in the top 10, would he sacrifice a higher qualifying position to start the race on hards?

intresting thought, although it probaly doesnt bother him as he just goes for it !

[Gaz]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

Kobayashi is at his best if he qualifies 11th. If he's in the top 10, would he sacrifice a higher qualifying position to start the race on hards?

To be fair hes only qualified in the top 10 4 times and of that he DNFed twice

10th and finished 10th
10 and then finished 12th

but hes qualifed 12th then finished 14th so i don't think the tires bother him that much.

[Denthúl]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

Kobayashi is at his best if he qualifies 11th. If he's in the top 10, would he sacrifice a higher qualifying position to start the race on hards?

No. If he's in a car that can qualify in the top five or six, then he would go for a position up there. Less cars ahead, more chance of running faster than those behind, bigger chance of a bigger result. The long-run strategies don't work at every circuit and in many cases depend on incidents that cause the safety car to come out.

[Big Azza]

As for Sauber, dont see the team as a dark horse... maybe with some Carlos Slim cash, they'll be in a better position, perhaps enough to challenge Renault, Force India or whichever of the top teams faulters... but to go for podiums, it'll take a crazy race with aliens and stuff. Like Abu Dhabi. hehe

I'd love to see that. Oh the talk on the forum the next day! It all depends on what they can do with the cash... I'd also not be surprised to see them lure some additional engineering talent from a top team. But with an unusual tire strategy that goes their way in a track that is difficult to pass, Kobayashi potentially fighting for a 3rd step on a podium at some point next year is not that far fetched.

Kobayashi is at his best if he qualifies 11th. If he's in the top 10, would he sacrifice a higher qualifying position to start the race on hards?

To be fair hes only qualified in the top 10 4 times and of that he DNFed twice

10th and finished 10th
10 and then finished 12th

but hes qualifed 12th then finished 14th so i don't think the tires bother him that much.

Yes the tires did matter - if you're referring to Abu Dhabi. Didn't he start on softs and finish on hards? Very unusual for him if that's the case.

In Valencia, Suzuka, and Interlagos - he started on hards, and would run in the top three for most of the race (like he did in Abu Dhabi). He'd pit for fresh softs with 10-15 laps to go, and take advantage of everyone elses worn out hard rubber and pull of many overtaking moves.

Unfortunately that strategy would not work in Abu Dhabi because also it was impossible to overtake.