user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Kobayashi 'not happy' with last-minute Caterham call-up

Kobayashi 'not happy' with last-minute Caterham call-up

  • Published on 05 Sep 2014 09:02
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Kamui Kobayashi may be back on the grid, but that doesn't mean he is "happy". As Caterham's new management took hold, the Japanese was sidelined in Belgium two weeks ago in favour of Andre Lotterer and his sponsor Hype. "I think it was also the Wednesday (before the race)," he admitted to reporters at Monza.

"I was at the factory, working in the simulator and at about lunch I was told that I wouldn't race in Spa. I still went there but not to the track. I stayed at the hotel rather than causing problems in the paddock. There just would have been a lot of questions but I didn't have an answer as to why I wasn't racing," said Kobayashi.

This time around, while Kobayashi was in Tokyo mere hours ago, it was clear that Lotterer and Roberto Merhi were at the front of the queue for the Monza seat. Ultimately, Spaniard Merhi did not get a full F1 super license. And Lotterer turned down the chance because he would have had to sit out practice. Asked on Thursday when he got the call to come to Monza, Kobayashi answered: "Yesterday. I was in Tokyo. It was all last-minute."

Kobayashi, known and loved for his fighting spirit, was already not particularly enjoying life at the back of the grid when team owner Tony Fernandes pulled the plug. "The situation is difficult," the 27-year-old admitted on Thursday. "First of all I'm interested in racing. I want to race. But what happens in the last couple of weeks is not much about sport. I think it was political decisions."

"We had to negotiate even with lawyers -- definitely it is a difficult situation," said Kobayashi. "I think the team is in a difficult position. When I look at the news, I think everything is pretty obvious. Roberto will drive in the first practice and Andre was not very pleased with it. So they called me."

Asked if he considered joining Lotterer in saying "no", Kobayashi answered: "I have a contract. If they say I work on the simulator, I work on the simulator. If they say I stay at home, I stay at home." Asked if he is happy, Kobayashi said: "Am I happy? No. But there's not much I can do. I am trying to maintain good relationships, as far as it is possible. But if they want to survive, maybe they are forced to be in this situation."

It is obvious that Caterham's plan is to show Merhi is up to speed on Friday morning, before his backers step up to the grid for Singapore and beyond. Kobayashi acknowledged that he and his management are looking ahead to a different future. "Of course we need to think about other options and see what we can do," he said. "First the top teams have to make their choice and then comes the rest." (GMM)
F1 News Roberto Merhi

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
155
2
Ferrari
129
3
McLaren
74
4
Mercedes
42
5
Aston Martin
33
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

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
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

ES Roberto Merhi -
  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country Spain
  • Date of b. Mar 22 1991 (33)
  • Place of b. Castellon, Spain
  • Weight 76 kg
  • Length 1.79 m
Show full profile
show sidebar