Driver change rumours surrounding Caterham, Sauber

  • Published on 18 Jul 2014 16:00
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
After over 40 staff were shown the exit this week, arguably the most nervous drivers in the Hockenheim paddock are wearing green. Marcus Ericsson is probably safe due to his healthy sponsorship purse, but bringing much less to Caterham's table in 2014 is Japanese Kamui Kobayashi, who was signed by the now-departed Tony Fernandes mainly for his fight and experience. "If I'm not doing a good job tomorrow," he said in Germany, "maybe I'll be fired tomorrow."

The rumours at the newly-sold Caterham could be tying in with rumours at Sauber, another team struggling at the back of the grid this year. The Swiss team's boss Monisha Kaltenborn refused to categorically back drivers Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil as she mused Sauber's pointless year so far in Hockenheim. "In our history," she was quoted by German reporters, "we have never been so bad. For me, it is not acceptable. I am not satisfied with the performance of the team," Kaltenborn added, when also asked about her happiness with the drivers.

At around the same time, German Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann was spotted in Caterham's paddock motor home. As Sutil's future wavers, has Caterham advisor Colin Kolles spotted a potential stream of additional revenue? "It depends what they want," said Kobayashi, continuing to speculate on his future. "I'm more experienced than the other drivers, so I just have to focus on my job. I cannot bring anything money-wise. It's fine to lose out to a driver with money -- this is formula one unfortunately."

Indeed, Caterham team boss Christijan Albers confirmed paddock suspicions that, after many members of staff were made redundant in recent days, the drivers are also not immune. "As with any business, we are constantly evaluating all our employees," he told F1's official website, "and our drivers are no different." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Sauber
  • Points 18
  • Podiums 0
  • Grand Prix 81
  • Country SE
  • Date of b. Sep 2 1990 (34)
  • Place of b. Kumla, SE
  • Weight 63 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar