Kobayashi tests Ferrari F10 for demo drive

[Jungles]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/5/1461...

I had to laugh at the quote, “The first feeling was one of great happiness". It makes him sound like a Zen master.

Although I quite like Felipe Massa, I would be pleased if Kobayashi somehow got back into F1 for 2014 in the #2 Ferrari seat.

[toppstuff]

I like Kobayashi san. I think he still has some respect inside F1.

Of course, respect also needs to go hand in hand with commercial factors these days. Japan remains a major market and all it needs is a Japanese sponsor to stand closer to him and he could get a drive. Easier said than done mind you. But it is probably the only reason Williams put up with Maldonado, for example...

[Henry Fiddleton]

Might become a Mac Honda test driver at some point...

[Rude-boy]

Henry Fiddleton said:

Might become a Mac Honda test driver at some point...

I would be in agreement with you but not sure quite how far into bed he is still with Toyota and if he could drive a Honda car without causing significant 'issues' at home.

[davepoth]

Rude-boy said:

I would be in agreement with you but not sure quite how far into bed he is still with Toyota and if he could drive a Honda car without causing significant 'issues' at home.

He's the only Japanese driver who is anywhere near F1 at the moment, and IMO he's a pretty handy wheelman. If he'd been able to bring a big sponsor with him I think Mclaren would have been better off with the other Sauber driver.

[Fantuzzi]

Good news, he was good for the sport with his overtakes, even if it wasn't for the top 10 always.

[davepoth]

Interesting thing popped up in my Facebook...

http://www.racingworld.it/f1/8781/incognita-ferrar...

In Italian, but the general gist is that Massa's neck injury may be a bit worse than first thought, and Kamui is being lined up to sit in for him in Canada. Don't know how much weight to give it though.

[RobGT81]

He is doing alright in WEC considering the amount of GT experience the other Ferrari drivers have.

[rubystone]

He is a good driver and it is a shame that the couple of million Euro he raised wasn't enough to stay at Sauber. Ironic that the Ferrari connection is why Hulk moved there and Kobayashi ends up moving over to Ferrari. One wonders whether hat may have been part of the deal with him moving without too much fuss?

[Rude-boy]

PW said:

It acknowledges that Kobyashi is preparing for Le Mans, but entirely ignores that part of those preparations will be Le Mans Test day, which is June 9th, same date as the Canadian GP.

I imagine he would probably want to be there for that, as Le Mans rookie drivers must complete 10 laps minimum before qualifying. Doesn't sound much, but drivers have missed it before.

Good, valid point but not a deal stopper as we all know the ACO are a touch elastic with such rules and Kobyashi's case would, I feel sure, be looked on with favourable eyes.