Kamui Kobayashi sees the 2010 Formula One season as a “good” one for his team, BMW Sauber. He believes that the team made some commendable progress over time even though the season began in a very distressing manner.
Sauber is an independent team founded by Peter Sauber who is now also its controller. The Swiss outfit has come under the direct control of Sauber after five years as he withdrew himself from the team in 2005. The start of the
season brought disappointment for the squad as it was unable to score even a single point. Only in the seventh round of the season, the Turkish Grand Prix, did the team earn its first point, albeit only a single one. This was brought home by Kobayashi who
ended in tenth place earning his first point in Formula One.
Now, as the 2010 season has come to an end the team stands in 8th place overall, one slot ahead of the Red Bull owned junior team, Toro Rosso. With its 44 points, Sauber follows Force India’s 68.
While recalling the events of the season, Kobayashi reckons that the team has come a long way. He told reporters that the way they picked up after the disappointing initial rounds was very encouraging and of course a praiseworthy
effort on the team’s part.
While talking to the media earlier this week, the Japanese driver said, “We had a lot of ups and downs, but overall we had a good season. In the beginning we were struggling a lot. This was a pretty bad time. It was hard, and it
was very difficult to recover from this situation during the season, because nowadays there is no testing.”
As the season ends, the 24 year old stands in 12th place in the Driver’s Championship with 32 points. During the first four races of the season the driver was unable to finish, retiring until the Spanish Grand Prix where
he ended in 12th place. Another retirement in Monaco was followed by his first finish in points in Turkey. Later at the European Grand Prix he ended in 7th place followed by the brilliant 6th position taken in Silverstone,
which also marked his best finish of the season.
For the young driver, it was ‘not a bad’ debut season in Formula One as he managed to improve over the season. Now, as all the teams are deciding their Driver’s line up for the upcoming season both Kobayashi and his team have hinted
stepping forward in 2011 together.
Expressing his aspirations and goals for the upcoming year the Sauber driver said, “My personal aim is to make zero mistakes. For the team I hope we will have a good car, and be able to fight for points on a regular basis to improve
our position in the Championship.”
The driver spent part of his first complete year in Formula One with Pedro de la Rosa who was later replaced by Nick Heidfeld for the latter half of the season. While Kobayashi has been able to secure his seat with the team both
his teammates of last year will not be accompanying him in 2011.
The team has signed the GP2 front runner Sergio Perez as the driver for next season.
The driver is now looking forward to seeing a much smoother year ahead, free of the financial and managerial problems seen by the driver in his rookie season with Sauber.
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