Kobayashi: Future depends on results

The Japanese driver had a frustrating start to the season, following his much-hyped debut performances for Toyota last year, but has put himself back in the limelight with good results in Valencia and Silverstone.

And although his career-best equalling sixth place in the British Grand Prix fuelled paddock speculation that he could be poached away from Sauber, the man himself says all he is worrying about so far is his performance at each race.

"I'm not really thinking about the future," said Kobayashi. "To me this is all just political stuff. What I need to do here is just to drive, to score points - because for me there is no point to think about anything else at the moment.

"Still we have nine races, which can change a lot, and if we have bad results then maybe I have no choice to drive for any team. My job is to focus here."

Kobayashi believes the breakthrough in Sauber's performance, which has seen it net 14 points in the last two races having scored just a single one up to Valencia, is down to much improved reliability.

"The biggest improvement has been with reliability," he explained. "We have no problem with both cars and with Pedro's wing in Silverstone it was not the usual problem.

"If we have nothing happening it means we can finish races. And for me, once I get mileage then maybe I have much more capacity to improve. I think that is why we are better.

"I have more experience and am much more relaxed in races. The team has done some really good work and had a good time in the last couple of races and I get the experience."

He added: "If we work hard then we get good results, if we don't we can't get them. We have to think like usual. I have more confidence and definitely the car is better, and I believe we can get points. But we have to work hard.

"Up until the last two races it was really frustrating because we had no points at all. I scored one point in Turkey, but one point is nothing so now we have a couple of points which is better - but still we need more. Our target is definitely the points."