Grands Prix entered 78
Kamui Kobayashi(Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, 13/09/1986)
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Biography of F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi (born on 13 September 1986 in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese racing driver who made his name in Formula 1 in the early 2010s before building a top-level career in endurance racing.
After starting out in karting in Japan, Kobayashi moved to Europe at a very young age, joining the Toyota young driver programme. In 2004 he competed in Formula Renault 2000 Italia, while in 2005 and 2006 he raced in the Formula 3 Euro Series. In 2007 he stepped up to the GP2 Series with DAMS, where he scored several victories and stood out for an aggressive yet effective driving style, qualities that earned him Toyota’s trust as a Formula 1 reserve driver.
His Formula 1 World Championship debut came at the end of the 2009 season with Toyota, when he was entered for the final two Grands Prix. Already at his debut in Interlagos he impressed with wheel-to-wheel battles against top drivers, confirming a remarkable overtaking ability. In 2010, following Toyota’s withdrawal from Formula 1, Kobayashi was signed by Sauber, with whom he competed for three consecutive seasons.
Between 2010 and 2012 he achieved several points finishes and secured his best career result at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, finishing third in front of his home crowd. That same season he also took Sauber’s first pole position of the V8 era at Spa-Francorchamps, becoming the first Japanese driver to start from pole position in Formula 1. He ended his Formula 1 career with 75 Grands Prix contested, one podium and numerous strong results often achieved against more competitive cars.
In 2013 he was absent from the Formula 1 grid, but returned in 2014 with Caterham, in a very difficult technical context that did not allow him to achieve significant results. At the end of that season his Formula 1 career came to a definitive close.
From 2015 Kobayashi focused on endurance racing and closed-wheel competitions, becoming one of the reference figures of Toyota’s programme in the FIA World Endurance Championship. With Toyota Gazoo Racing Hypercar he achieved numerous overall victories, world titles and successes in major classics, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Over the years he combined his on-track activity with increasing managerial and technical involvement within the team.
Kamui Kobayashi holds a leading role within Toyota’s endurance programme, combining sporting and managerial duties in the WEC. Outside competition he is known for his strong link to Japan and for his commitment to the development of young drivers, as well as for his constant presence as a representative figure of Japanese motorsport at international level.
Current season statistics
Formula 1 Season*
| Year | Team | Chassis | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sauber | C31 | 60 |
| 2011 | Sauber | C30 | 30 |
| 2010 | Sauber | C29 | 32 |
| 2009 | Toyota | TF109 | 3 |
Qualifying teammate battle
| Year | Team | Teammate | Win | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Caterham F1 Team (CT05) | Ericsson M. | 11 VS 4 | |
| 2012 | Sauber F1 Team (C31) | Perez S. | 8 VS 12 | |
| 2011 | Sauber F1 Team (C30) | Perez S. | 7 VS 11 | |
| 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team (C29) | Heidfeld N. | 4 VS 1 | |
| Total | 30 VS 28 | |||
Best results in Formula 1 *
| Grand Prix | Team | Chassis | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 9 |
| Abu Dhabi GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 6 |
| Japanese GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 3 |
| Italian GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 9 |
| German GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 4 |
| Canadian GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 9 |
| Spanish GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 5 |
| Chinese GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 10 |
| Australian GP 2012 | Sauber F1 Team | C31 | 6 |
| Brazilian GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 9 |
| Abu Dhabi GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 10 |
| German GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 9 |
| Canadian GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 7 |
| Monaco GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 5 |
| Spanish GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 10 |
| Turkish GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 10 |
| Chinese GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 10 |
| Malaysian GP 2011 | Sauber F1 Team | C30 | 7 |
| Brazilian GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 10 |
| Japanese GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 7 |
| Korean GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 8 |
| Belgian GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 8 |
| Hungarian GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 9 |
| British GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 6 |
| European GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 7 |
| Turkish GP 2010 | BMW Sauber F1 Team | C29 | 10 |
| Brazilian GP 2009 | Panasonic Toyota Racing | TF109 | 9 |
| Abu Dhabi GP 2009 | Panasonic Toyota Racing | TF109 | 6 |
