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Kobayashi: Teamwork vital at Sauber
Kamui Kobayashi is pleased with the environment at Sauber as he prepares for his first full season in Formula 1. After racing in the final two events of last year and scoring three points in Abu Dhabi, the Japanese driver drove the brand-new C29 for the first time in Valencia on Tuesday.
Having impressed at Toyota as stand-in for the injured Timo Glock at Interlagos and Yas Marina, Kobayashi looked certain to be confirmed at the Cologne-based team for a full-time drive this year until it announced its withdrawal from the sport only three days after the season-ending race in the Middle East.
"We started negotiating after Abu Dhabi, but the problem was that the team didn't have an entry at that time so Peter (Sauber, Team Principal) told me to be patient and wait," Kobayashi explained to the official F1 website. "Once the team had its entry confirmed, we finalised the negotiations and signed the contract.
"I was thinking that I was very lucky but Peter didn't say anything like that, so I know what is expected from me - to be professional and work very hard."
For 2010, the 23-year-old is partnered by experienced Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, 15 years his senior. "He's bringing a lot of experience from McLaren," Kamui said of the former test driver for the Woking team. "He knows how to work the car, how to push development and I need to look over his shoulder.
"We have to work together and develop the car together. I know Pedro quite well and I'm sure that we'll form a great team - something of a 'family team'."
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