Kamui Kobayashi has made a surprise return to a Formula One car. The 38-year-old had not been seen in an F1 car since leaving Caterham in 2014.
Kobayashi began his F1 career at Toyota in 2009 before spending another three years with Sauber. For the last 11 years, he has competed away from the F1 grid, splitting his time between the Super GT and Super Formula circuits in Japan. Kobayashi has won two FIA World Endurance Championship titles with Toyota Gazoo Racing and was victorious at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2021. However, a partnership between Toyota and Haas F1 allowed Kobayashi to see how much has changed since he last competed in an F1 car.
The Japanese driver was allowed to test the 2023 VF-23 at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The drive was carried out under Testing of Previous Cars regulations, providing Kobayashi with a chance to relive his F1 days.
“Bit of fun with this beast again after 11 years,” Kobayashi wrote on social media.“Thank you for this opportunity, Toyota Gazoo Racing and Haas F1. Also big big thanks my neck last 2 days was strong”
While it may not be the start of a second stint in F1, Toyota WEC team principal Kobayashi savoured the opportunity. The partnership has allowed Haas to run TPCs for the first time and operate its own simulator programme due to Toyota’s expertise.
“Today is a bit of a different role compared to usual. I mean, obviously, usually I’m a WEC driver and team principal with the WEC team at Toyota Gazoo Racing,” Kobayashi said in a video on Haas’ social media channels. “Today, it’s a bit of a different role. I’m driving Formula One with the Haas team.
“This is a collaboration between Toyota Gazoo Racing and Haas F1 team, to collaborate in the future [on] 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,” Kobayashi said in a video on Haas’ social media accounts.
“I mean, I’m not young enough to say I want to be a Formula One driver [again] but today’s opportunity is making a chance for a younger driver to [ get] this potential in Formula One in the future.
“This means I want to give advice, on how you feel in [a] Formula One [car] this time, and what they need to be prepared for the future to be in F1.”
“That’s why it’s like a reference, I got back in the F1 car after 11 years,” he continued. “Since 2014, I have not driven an F1 car and after 11 years, the car feels quite different. But I enjoyed it, and it went smoothly. I fit in the car and the physicality is fine after 11 years. I definitely enjoyed today.
“Thanks to Haas for this opportunity, and I smiled a lot today while driving! This experience gives more chance for a future Formula 1 driver from Toyota to get an opportunity. ”
The partnership has allowed several Japanese drivers to test a modern F1 car. During his five years as an F1 driver, Kobayashi achieved his only podium finish at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix. He placed as high as 12th in the drivers’ championship for three consecutive years at Sauber.
