Kobayashi - I felt lucky

Kobayashi: Taking his chance

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Kamui Kobayashi says he felt grateful for the "chance and circumstances" that have allowed him to launch his Formula One career full-time in 2010.

The 23-year-old Japanese driver put a poor campaign in last year's GP2 Championship firmly behind him when handed his F1 chance by Toyota at the end of the 2009 season.

Called up to replace the injured Timo Glock for the final two races, Kobayashi turned heads with his ability to mix it with the likes of Jenson Button in Brazil before finishing sixth - ahead of team-mate Jarno Trulli - in Abu Dhabi.

Set to graduate with Toyota this year, Kobayashi's career was called into question when the Japanese manufacturer subsequently cancelled its F1 programme.

However, salvation came when Toyota's withdrawal allowed an entry for Peter Sauber's newly-independent team - whose own future appeared in doubt after BMW's departure - and they immediately hired the promising youngster.

"After these two races (Brazil and Abu Dhabi) everything changed and I knew that if I got a chance and worked hard, Formula One would be within reach," Kobayashi told the official F1 website.

"I prepared myself because if a chance comes along you have to be ready. But looking back, it is difficult to say what I really expected would happen. Sometimes chance and circumstances decide your future.

"We (himself and Sauber) started negotiating after Abu Dhabi, but the problem was that the team didn't have an entry at that time so Peter told me to be patient and wait.

"Once the team had its entry confirmed, we finalised the negotiations and signed the contract. I was thinking that I was very lucky, but Peter didn't say anything like that, so I know what is expected from me - to be professional and work very hard."

Good feeling

Kobayashi started to put Sauber's 2010 challenger, the C29, through its paces in Valencia on Wednesday last week, with the car appearing towards the top of the timesheets throughout the three-day test.

However, he said it was difficult to compare his new car to last year's Toyota.

"I have a good feeling, although it is hard to compare it and point out significant differences, because we are speaking here about two totally different car concepts," he said.

"Now we have narrow front tyres, a big tank and a lot of fuel. My experience is not great enough to really make a statement on it at this at time."

As for his goals for 2010, Kobayashi added: "Obviously we need to score points for the team. Everything else is dreams for the future."