Sauber praises 'amazing' Kobayashi

Kobayashi started from 18th position but made perfect use of his strategy and the safety car period to run in third for a big part of the event.

The Japanese, starting on the harder tyres, eventually pitted close to the end of the race and again charged towards the front with the fresh rubber, passing Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Buemi on the final laps to claim seventh position.

Team-mate Pedro de la Rosa completed Sauber's best race of the season after finishing in tenth for his first points of the year.

"What a fantastic race, particularly considering where we were on the grid," said Sauber. "The team and the drivers did everything right today. Pedro delivered a very solid performance and scored one point, and Kamui was absolutely amazing.

"The lap times which he put in while he was in third were stunning.

"They prove how much potential there is in this car. Congratulations to the whole team and the drivers."