Kamui Kobayashi makes a surprise F1 return with Haas in a TPC test as part of the Toyota deal, for the time since 2014 when he competed full-time.
After running Ryo Hirakawa and Ritomo Miyata in their Testing Previous Cars programme, Haas fielded a surprise former F1 driver in the VF-23 machinery last week in Paul Ricard. Current WEC and Super Formula driver Kobayashi got his first taste of the new machinery since his last run in 2014.
The partnership between Haas and Toyota has helped in making this test run possible, who wanted to give Kobayashi an opportunity to try out the modern F1 car. In addition to his driving role in WEC, he also dovetails with team principal role of the Japanese endurance outfit.
“Today it is a bit different role compared to usual, I mean, obviously, usually I am doing the WEC driver and team principal with WEC team Toyota GAZOO Racing,” said Kobayashi. “Today its bit a different role, obviously, I am driving Formula 1 with Haas team. This is a collaboration between Toyota Gazoo Racing and Haas F1 team, to collaborate in the future technology to improve and, at the same time, the future from Morizo-san [Toyota president Akio Toyoda], we want to give an opportunity to a Toyota driver to have a Formula 1 future.
“I mean, I’m not young enough to say I want to be an F1 driver but today’s opportunity is making a chance for a younger driver to this potential in Formula 1 in the future driver. This means I want to give advice, on how you feel in Formula 1 this time, and what they need to be prepared for the future to be in F1. That’s why it’s kind of like a reference, I got back in the F1 car after 11 years.
“Since 2014, I have not driven an F1 car and, after 11 years, it is quite different car feeling. But definitely I enjoyed it, and it is quite smoothly I fit in the car and the physicality is fine after 11 years. So, I definitely enjoyed today. And yeah, first of all, thanks for this opportunity, but yeah definitely I enjoy, I smile a lot today while driving!
“But probably, it is experience that give a more chance to future Formula 1 driver as Toyota to give more opportunity. Thanks for this chance and hopefully I think I look forward to the next driving the Formula 1 car,” summed up Kobayashi.
Here’s video: https://x.com/HaasF1Team/status/1930598129239306639
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