10 years ago, Kobayashi scored his only podium in F1

Avant de faire les beaux jours de Toyota en Endurance, the team with which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2021, Kamui Kobayashi has proven itself in Formula 1. Unfortunately, during 4 full seasons (2010 to 2012 then 2014) in the big circus, the Japanese showed that he had a good driving skill without being rewarded.

However, Kamui Kobayashi was able to impress the paddock during a very special occasion: the Japanese Grand Prix contested on October 7, 2012. Author of a good qualification with the 4^e time with a Sauber C31 at ease at Suzuka, the event venue raised the tone in the race. Reassembled 2^e rear Sebastian Vettel from the first lap of the Grand Prix, the native of Amagasaki gave his comrades a hard time in the Japanese roller coaster.

Kobayashi's Resistance

Coming back behind Felipe Massa in the pit stop game, Kamui Kobayashi then had to manage a certain Jenson Button, 2009 world champion with Brawn GP and driver McLaren at the time. The Englishman huddled in his exhausts during the last laps, the Nippon showed great resistance to reach the finish in 3^e position behind Felipe Massa and the winner of the day Sebastian Vettel and barely half a second ahead of his counterpart.

« It was a fantastic race, he exulted when celebrating his first podium in the premier category. We worked very hard to get this podium while my teammate (Sergio Perez) already picked up a few (Malaysia, Canada and Italy that same year). I have already had some good performances in qualifying, but I have never had any luck. I was often in difficulty during the starts... I was confident this weekend and as soon as I gained positions at the start, I was convinced that I was going to finish the race on the podium, but the last stint was very hard »

To this day, Kamui Kobayashi remains the last Japanese person to reach a podium in F1. A feat that his compatriot will try to achieve as quickly as possible Yuki tsunoda. Maybe as early as this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prix?

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