Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Hamilton wants "a seat at the table" for F1 drivers in rules talks - but is it viable?

Feature
Formula 1
Miami GP
Hamilton wants "a seat at the table" for F1 drivers in rules talks - but is it viable?

Verstappen: F1 rule changes for Miami GP are "just a tickle"

Formula 1
Miami GP
Verstappen: F1 rule changes for Miami GP are "just a tickle"

Honda details "countermeasures" for Miami GP after horror start to F1 2026 with Aston Martin

Formula 1
Miami GP
Honda details "countermeasures" for Miami GP after horror start to F1 2026 with Aston Martin

Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

General
Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

VR46: 'Plan A' is to keep di Giannantonio for MotoGP 2027

MotoGP
Spanish GP
VR46: 'Plan A' is to keep di Giannantonio for MotoGP 2027

What Apple TV’s Miami Grand Prix coverage means for the future of F1 in the U.S.

Formula 1
Miami GP
What Apple TV’s Miami Grand Prix coverage means for the future of F1 in the U.S.

Top 10 worst follow-ups to title-winning F1 cars

Feature
Formula 1
Top 10 worst follow-ups to title-winning F1 cars

How the MotoGP 2027 rider market impacts the energy drink sponsorship landscape

MotoGP
How the MotoGP 2027 rider market impacts the energy drink sponsorship landscape

Japan preview quotes: Sauber

Kamui Kobayashi: "I am Japanese and therefore the Suzuka round is my home race, although I have not spent too much time in Japan over the last seven years. I was 17-years-old the last time I raced in Japan. Of course I know the circuit quite well after having driven there last year for Toyota in free practice before the Grand Prix. I find the circuit very nice, and I really like every inch of it. It is a challenging track over the entire lap. I think our car will be good in Suzuka. It is very exciting for me to be going there, and I know there will be a lot of supporters. There is a special area for my fans, and the 2000 tickets were sold out quickly. I left for Japan straight after the race in Singapore. Beside the race preparation, the food and the Japanese Spa treatments are something to look forward to."

Nick Heidfeld: "I am really looking forward to the race in Suzuka. It is my favourite of all Formula One circuits and, on what will be my second race weekend with the team, of course I will know a lot more about the car, which should help. On top of that I just love going to Japan. This time I will not be visiting Tokyo, but even Suzuka, where actually there is not much going on, is still the Japan I enjoy. I like the food, the culture and the excitement of the fans. They enjoy the Japanese Grand Prix so much, and this is very nice to see. The Suzuka lap has a very nice flow and a great variety of characteristics. The "Esses" in the first sector are especially beautiful. If you get these S corners right it is incredible fun."

Technical Director James Key: "It's great to go to Suzuka, which is Kamui's home race. It's a personal favourite of mine as well. I have some fond memories from past events, and the atmosphere there is excellent. I'm sure Kamui will have a lot of support from his fans. As far as the track is concerned, it's a favourite with the drivers and teams. It's one of those high speed circuits with a lot of high speed corners and sharp changes of direction. It's quite technical, and it's a good challenge for the drivers and the engineers to set up the car. I'm hoping it's a circuit which suits our car better than recent ones, but you never know until you get there. Hopefully it will be a little easier to find a good balance on Friday. As far as the car is concerned, we are taking the updates we've had in Singapore. We will do further work on them to try and get more out of them in Suzuka, which is a slightly more normal circuit than Singapore. Also we will have a few additional new items which we will test on Friday."

Previous article Japan preview quotes: Force India
Next article Renault: No regrets about selling stake

Top Comments