Kamui Kobayashi has admitted that securing an extra sponsor could be the deciding factor in helping to secure his future in Formula 1, with the Sauber man currently uncertain as to whether or not he will retain his seat at the Swiss-based outfit in 2013.
The 26-year-old boosted his chances with a maiden podium finish in Japan but remains under threat from rival drivers, a list which includes Telmex-backed youngster Esteban Gutiérrez who claimed third in the overall GP2 standings this season.
"Of course a sponsor could help for next year, but at the moment I have no sponsors to be here," Kobayashi explained. "It's very strange to need to find a sponsor to drive for another team or here (Sauber).
"At the moment of course the money is very important but basically I really want to be one of the top drivers with a good team. I want to be in Formula 1 and that's what I was dreaming of when I was young.
"Drivers should be thinking about the car and what to do with the car, but now it's complicated by a lot of sponsoring and what they can bring. I will try to stay in Formula 1 next year and show for the rest of the season what I can do."
Looking ahead to this weekend's Korean Grand Prix in Yeongam, Kobayashi is confident over his team's potential to fight for another rostrum result.
"It's not our favourite circuit with our car but if we manage it well then of course we have a chance for a podium," he added. "Since Suzuka our update is not working with everything properly fine, so still we have to look at the data and the package to check what our performance is and what we have to change.
"I think if we have everything working fine we have another shot at the podium so I'm looking forward to this week. If we can score as many points as we can it will be a good step forward for the constructors' championship."
Kobayashi's podium finish at Suzuka launched him to 11th in the Drivers' championship, one position and 16 points behind team-mate Sergio Pérez.
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