planetf1.com

has been confirmed on twitter among other places by Perez that Kobayashi is out and Gutierrez in.

I thought Kobayashi had done enough to merit the drive, but i am not too disappointed as i never held him in high regard

Looks like the track where he made his debut will be the location of his last race... Sauber lose all support from me unfortunately.

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Official Kamui Kobayashi Fanboy

Gracias @kamuikobayashi te deseo lo mejor! Thanks kamui all The Best...

so is that it ?

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Ask no questions, hear no lies

He is a single 6th place finish behind the man who has just earned a Mclaren drive. This after having potentially his 2 best results of the season at Spain and Spa cruelly taken from him.

Formula 1 never was fair but it will be all the poorer without KK next season.

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I remember when this website was all fields.

sauber just lost thousands of japanese fans , they were the only team to hold this recognition of the only exciting japanese driver , just watch the crowd reaction after the podium in suzuka

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Ask no questions, hear no lies

So sad that Sauber is now owned by a drug lord!!

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KIMI, KOBAYASHI, SCHUMI!!!

It's all about the money.

I don't rate Kobayashi too highly, but Gutiérrez doesn't exactly look better. There were probably better drivers to have, but eventually they settled for the acceptable one who had the money behind him.
Then again, Gutiérrez could be lightning-fast and I could be completely wrong. He's getting a good chance in F1 now and it will be interesting to see him race.

Hülkenberg/Gutiérrez seems like an interesting pairing. One quite fast driver who hasn't made it against a rookie, whose F1 performance level is unknown. If Gutiérrez is any good, Sauber have made a good move.
However, Kobayashi has definitely done enough to earn a drive - more than what Gutiérrez has to warrant his Sauber spot really.

Maybe Vijay will take him? I don't know what his brands are like in Japan but the exposure can't hurt.

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Official Kamui Kobayashi Fanboy

I have a bad feeling he will end up with a backmarker team. If not, he'll probably head off to the Super GT series in Japan. Like most ex-F1 Japanese drivers.

Uh, what?

Sad to hear this. Kobi maybe didn't quite live up to his early promise, but I still think he has done a solid job this year.

He hasnt done badly, but Perez has clearly outperformed him. Thats not really doing a "solid job" in my opinion.

**** you Sauber!

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minus Vettel

KK is not consistent enough and I guess they have decided that the money Telmex brings are worth it given Kamui's performances.

**** you Sauber? I'm willing to bet that they'd be more than happy to keep KK provided you pay the same amount Slim pays to them.

I am sad to see Kobayashi go but I can see it from Saubers point of view. Kobi is not a world champion driver and there is a fair chance Guitierez is better. They already have a driver who is good enough to achieve the potential so even taking money out of the equation I think its worth the risk for them.

Hopefully he'll land one of the un-filled seats. If indeed it is 100% kosher.

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

If this is true I have officially lost all support for Sauber. I personally hope this guys crashes out every race and if not runs with the likes of marussia and caterham. I hope FI pick him up.

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He seemed to be an exciting driver in his early seasons but it kind of faded and i hardly even notice him during races. Maybe drivers have gotten wise to his lunges or maybe drs has taken away his advantage but whatever it is, he has lost something.

I guess you havenet watched this season. They have been very close this season, and actually Koba has lost more points due to being on the wrong end of incidents that had nothing to do with him. As someone else stated one 6th place is all that separated them and if Koba had a bit more like he would be ahead of Perez in the standings.

So overall pretty poor news for F1 unless Koba can go to another mid field team.

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RSR Racing

Kobayashi has been better driver in the second half. More consistent than Perez. Bulk of Perez points came from those 3 podiums. And he has been awful in other races bar 1.
Kobayashi on the other hand has gathered points by consistent results. IN fact he is now ahead in head to head race finish positions to Perez.

Sucks for him if he finds himself out of F1. But he had his issues this year. I hope he finds a seat.

It was clear they would sign another pay driver. No surprise the went for Gutierrez.

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"Everything you can imagine is real." Pablo Picasso

Gutted! really am a big fan of Kamui, I hope he gets a seat somewhere else. Hopefully Force India take him on.

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A man exists for only a lifetime, a name lasts until the end of time.

Why? What's Gutierrez ever done to you? He's supposed to turn down a drive if offered?

Dammit Sauber, screw you!

Frick!

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minus Vettel

Has this actually been confirmed anywhere? All I've seen so far is a tweet from Checo saying thank you and farewell to his teammate

there is another bit on autosport.

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Disclaimer: The above post maybe tongue in cheek.

"I thought I'd get your theories, mock them, then embrace my own. The usual."

Found it! Thanks.

That's a shame. I'm not really surprised but I do have a soft spot for Kamui. I hope he gets a drive elsewhere if the rumours are true

I wouldn't say he's been the better driver but he has certainly kept out of trouble and scored whenever the car has allowed him. I think he's very much like Button where when the car is to his liking he can beast it (see quali in various races and Spain) and when it isn't he generally performs at or around the level any other driver in his position would.

Ok, he's not like Alonso where he constantly outperforms the car but he has overtaking skill, can put the car in places it shouldn't be and is a really good guy as well as being amazingly consistent. Kobayashi and Hulkenberg would have been a formidable combination, Hulkenberg and Guiterrez will be effectively a 1 car team.

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Official Kamui Kobayashi Fanboy

That is so sh*t!

Does it actually say KK is out? All I can see is they've signed Gutierrez, nothing about the other seat.......

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Warning: The above post may contain sarcasm.

Seanie - I presume Gutierrez will partner Hulkenberg.

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All Time Favorite: Ayrton Senna

Others: Damon Hill
Montoya

Current: Lewis Hamilition

They've signed Hulkenberg recently I believe

+1

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HAMILTON/ALONSO/RAIKONNEN/VETTEL

Im excited to see what Gutierrez can do. FBMW and GP3 Champion, 3rd in GP2 this year...not a bad pedigree. There's another FBMW champion fighting this weekend for his third F1 WDC title.

He might still have some American fans too from his FBMW USA days. I remember watching him at those races

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haha oh yeah


I blame twitter, I read a tweet on the bus about Sauber refusing to confirm who'll be in the second seat then I read this and totally forgot about the hulk

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Warning: The above post may contain sarcasm.

Seems he knows about it:

From : http://www.kamui-kobayashi.com/wpcontents/?p=7621 (Translated via Google Chrome)

12.11.22 fundraising website launched "KAMUI SUPPORT" [Guide]
Thank you for your support all the time. Kamui Kobayashi has opened a donation site "KAMUI SUPPORT" want to thank the support from everyone towards the year 2013 will be the fourth full F1 season competing this time. I think we were a little with the cooperation of everyone. Humbly thank you.

<Website>
Fundraising website "Kamui SUPPORT"
Http://Www.Kamui-support.Com

Could this just be because HE is leaving? Thanks but I;m off like?

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I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.

Marx (Groucho)

So both Kovalainen and Kobayashi are up for grabs. I reckon they'd make a pretty decent lineup for any team.

It is easy forget, its such a neutral move for Hulky.

Its not like Perez to Macca

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All Time Favorite: Ayrton Senna

Others: Damon Hill
Montoya

Current: Lewis Hamilition

Heidfeld outscored Kubica in their time together at BMW, yet F1 paddock knew Heidfeld was just another journeyman, while Kubica was world class driver.

Perez dominated Kobayashi pacewise, thus he is deservedly taking McLaren seat, while Kobayashi is leaving F1, because he wasn't good enough. In a way it's a shame he's leaving, because I would love to see Hulkenberg dominating him and tons of excuses from Kobayashi fanboys (not fans, fanboys) why is it happening.