Kobayashi: “I was lucky”

Kamui Kobayashi, who took part in the Valencia test this week at the wheel of the Sauber-Ferrari C29, knows all the path he had to travel to manage to glean a regular driver's wheel in Formula 1. However, nothing was won in advance. If, last year, the Japanese won the 2/2008 GP2009 Asia Series with DAMS, he did not then confirm in the main series.

« It?s very difficult to say what happened in European GP2, when we were expecting much better results after the success in GP2 Asia, confides Kamui Kobayashi. Mais nous nous sommes battus tout du long et je n?ai jamais abandonné l?idée que je pouvais mieux faire. Cela a payé en F1 au Brésil et à Abu Dhabi. J?avais travaillé dur avec Toyota et l?occasion s?est enfin présentée à moi. C?était ma chance. Je dois admettre qu?il est difficile de croire que les choses puissent à ce point changer d?un moment à l?autre. J?ai été assez surpris moi-même. »

Despite mediocre results in the GP2 Series last year, Kobayashi, third Toyota F1 driver, was able to count on Timo Glock's withdrawal to take his chance at the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. But the main person concerned is still surprised to have been called in for reinforcement. “ From the outside, it is difficult to understand their decision, while people often tend to forget about you after a series of bad results. I was lucky and I am very, very happy about it. »

Now a Formula 1 driver, Kamui Kobayashi did not think, a few months ago, that he would be able to achieve this so quickly. He confesses that his participation in the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix, having finished sixth (3 points) during the latter event, allowed him to get noticed by the F1 world. “ Before these races, I didn't really believe it. But after these two races, everything changed. I knew that if I worked hard, Formula 1 would be within my reach. I prepared myself so that in case a chance presented itself, I would be ready to take it. But, looking back, it's hard to say what I saw happening. Sometimes luck and circumstances decide your future. »