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Lotterer turned down Caterham, Kobayashi to return

  • Published on 04 Sep 2014 08:54
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Caterham is set to announce Kamui Kobayashi's return to the cockpit for the Italian grand prix. The Japanese was sidelined two weeks ago at Spa-Francorchamps, as reigning Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer and his sponsor Hype stepped into the green car.

Caterham's new management intended to run the Russian-backed Spanish rookie Roberto Merhi in Monza, but it emerges that the FIA only granted him permission to drive in Friday practice, given his F1 inexperience. It is believed the Leafield-based team, headed by Colin Kolles, now fully intends to give the 23-year-old his race debut in Singapore, after the FIA is satisfied with Merhi's practice performance at high-speed Monza and grants him a super license.

Lotterer, who performed strongly at Spa but retired early from the race with a loss of power, has revealed he was offered the race seat for Italy but turned it down. "When Colin Kolles told me on Tuesday that Merhi would take my place for the first practice session, I changed my mind and told them I would not participate," said the Belgian-raised German and works Audi sports car driver. "I am a newcomer in formula one and I need to drive," said Lotterer.

Multiple sources are now reporting that Japanese Kobayashi, whose name is already showing above the Caterham garage at Monza, is en route to Italy. "I am headed to the country of pasta," the 27-year-old wrote in Japanese on Twitter. Kobayashi reportedly continues to lack adequate sponsorship for the seat, but Caterham has already run three drivers in 2014 and wants to keep the fourth open to Merhi for Singapore and beyond. (GMM)
F1 News Roberto Merhi
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Driver profile

ES Roberto Merhi
  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Mar 22 1991 (29)
  • Place of b. Castellon, ES
  • Weight 76 kg
  • Length 1.79 m
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Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Spain
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Spain
3 - Jul 5
Austria
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Austria
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17 - Jul 19
Hungary
Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom
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Nurburgring
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Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
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Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
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Turkey
Istanbul Park
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Dec 6
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit Outer Track layout
10 - Dec 13
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2020

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
-
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Jul 5
Austria Red Bull Ring
10 - Jul 12
Austria Red Bull Ring
17 - Jul 19
Hungary Hungaroring
31 - Aug 2
United Kingdom Silverstone
7 - Aug 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
14 - Aug 16
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Aug 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
4 - Sep 6
Italy Monza
11 - Sep 13
Italy Mugello
25 - Sep 27
Russian Sochi Autodrom
9 - Oct 11
Germany Nurburgring
23 - Oct 25
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
31 - Nov 1
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
13 - Nov 15
Turkey Istanbul Park
26 - Nov 29
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Dec 6
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Outer Track layout
10 - Dec 13
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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