Q+A with Kamui Kobayashi15.01.2009

What are your thoughts entering your second year as third driver with Panasonic Toyota Racing?

I’m really pleased to be continuing with the team and I’m looking forward to the challenge of developing the TF109. It will be another busy season for me because I will be racing in GP2 Asia and the GP2 Series as well as being third driver with Toyota but I am young and I love driving racing cars so it’s no problem for me. This is an important year for me because I want to enjoy success in GP2 as this is the perfect stepping stone for a career in Formula 1. I don’t know what the future will hold but I will fight all the way this year, never giving up and always giving everything I can.

How do you find life as a Formula 1 driver?

It’s great fun but it is also very tiring. I have to say, being a Formula 1 driver is not what I expected when I was a small boy because it is about more than just driving and working on the car; there are so many other tasks that I need to do. It’s obvious to me now but when I was a young boy I just assumed racing drivers spent their days only racing cars! The time you actually spend driving the car is only 5-10% of the year. The rest of the time is taken up with training, team meetings for the development of the car, PR and various other activities. These are the things that make up the overall life of a Formula 1 driver. From a private point of view, nothing much has changed for me – except I am even busier than ever! As a Formula 1 driver for Toyota and a GP2 racer, there is plenty of work to keep me busy but I enjoy it.

What are your goals as a racing driver?

The biggest thing for me is that no Japanese driver has ever been a Formula 1 winner so that is my ultimate dream. I know it would make the Japanese people incredibly proud if a Japanese driver could win races in a Toyota; that would mean a lot. But before thinking about that kind of thing, my priority has to be constantly improving and eventually earning a Formula 1 race seat.

What inspired you to start in motorsport?

When I was very young I happened to see a TV commercial advertising karts for hire, and when I told my dad he agreed to take me along. So it started there with karting and immediately I enjoyed it so when I was in kindergarten my ambition was to be a racing driver. At that time I didn’t think about being a Formula 1 driver or whatever; I just wanted to race cars. Actually, for a while I wanted to be a stand-up comedian and joined the comedy club at school, but I soon decided that racing was what I really wanted to do.

How is life within the Panasonic Toyota Racing team?

It is a fantastic experience and it has really helped me develop as a driver. Working with so many experienced professionals, in all different fields, has expanded my knowledge and taught me a lot about the engineering behind a Formula 1 car. Seeing how dedicated and professional everyone is in this team really inspires me. Another benefit is that a lot of the guys at the team have worked with young drivers in the past and they are familiar with issues you face as a young driver adapting to Formula 1, so they have been really helpful.

Have Jarno and Timo helped?

Having drivers like that working alongside you is very interesting and they do give me some advice, which I always try to take. I have learned quite a bit from Jarno and Timo; they have a great understanding of how to interpret the behaviour of the car and change it in the right direction. Also on the track, they know exactly when to push and when not to so there is a lot to learn from them and I am determined to do so. However, when we are working together the main discussion is about how to improve and develop the car because this is our main job.