Since we have another two boring weeks to go till the next GP, I figured let's talk about something else: KOBAYASHI! I was hugely impressed by his debut last year showing no respect for the big names and passing some heavy hitters in Abu Dhabi. So I was delighted to see him being picked up by Sauber. However this year all he has delivered are shreds of carbon fibre. Some weren't his fault. Some were and Sauber is getting increasingly unhappy with his drivers (I had no expectations for Dela Pink, he was useless when he became a test driver for McLaren and went nowhere ever since). Too early to tell? Will Kobayashi become Nippon's most famous son eventually or is he just another Samurai on a Harakiri mission? Comments, thoughts?
Well AFAIK he doesn't bring money with him, the car appears to be crap, he does keep Japan in the sport and I'am sure Bernie likes that aspect. He did show some great race craft and no fear in taking on the big boys. IMO they should first concentrate on getting the car up to some respectable speed, and employ some new tech aero guys ect, but if lack of cash is the problem Koby may have to go.
Kobayashi is definitely the best Japanese F1 talent I remember seeing and I think he has tons of potential. But he is driving for Peter Sauber. Now, I am a big fan of Flavio and not so much of Sauber although I have tremendous respect for his success and longevity as a privateer (to various degrees) in motor racing. Despite seemingly opposite personalities, it seems they have one thing in common. Under their tutelage, it is impossible to tell whether a great talent will become a star or get neutered.
I think he has the talent but I don't think and it doesn't look like he can show it in any and every car no matter how bad it is. There are few drivers that can do this and he ain't one of them. However I think if Sauber just start build on the team for this year, maybe get a few sponsors then maybe next year we might see the Kobayashi from last year a little.
I have a high regard for Kubica. Last year, his car was absolutely **** and he was pretty much at the bottom of the field, save for the first race. He was regularly outqualified and out-raced by heidfelt, who I don't regard that highly (coincidently, heidfelt also proved a challenge sometimes in Raikkonen's first season). We know the current car is (again) a dog, and I think it must be incredibly frustrating trying to drive that thing even remotely quickly...neigh on impossible. For me its too early to tell. Put him in a good car (mclaren, red bull, mercedes, ferrari or the renault) and he'd be up there
Kobayashi was one of my highlights of the last season. It is clear he has the talent. I don't know that we can draw much from this seasons showing so far as it is clear that the BMW Sauber Ferrari (how did that happen?!) is such a dog of a car, and the team must have a pretty down atmosphere right now with little sponsorship to speak of. I hope he gets the chance to shine again soon.
I was saying that Kubica drove for sauber last year and the car was ****, and he had a terrible season. when Kubica is in a good car he's great, bad car he sucks. Same thing for Kobayashi it seems.
The man I await is Hulk. Where, when ? Maybe Williams only has the manpower for one car.....??? Kobi is easily quicker than DLR, but this is his DNF year I'm afraid.
Tough crowd! If I recall correctly, these are the results: Bahrain: Hydraulic failure Australia: Front wing failure after curb strike Malaysia: Ferrari engine failure China: Knocked out by Liuzzi How are you all judging his driving so harshly given this?! He's driving an inferior car that has broken or been too slow to put him anywhere but a vulnerable mid-pack track position at the starts. To my eyes, only Australia's wing failure *may* have been avoidable. But recall that the Sauber's front wing had failed repeatedly in practice, as it did to horrifying effect in the race (leaving him without braking or steering) and had to be modified.
