Kamui Kobayashi says he is “very sad” about the destruction and loss of life in Japan today.
The country experienced a severe earthquake and tsunami which caused widespread death and destruction. The full scale of the tragedy is not yet known.
Speaking after today’s test session in Barcelona the Japanese driver said: “Now all my thoughts are with the people in Japan.
“My country has suffered an enormous catastrophe. The news is depressing and I’m very sad. I can’t really put in words what I feel.”
Image © Sauber F1 Team
BasCB (@bascb)
11th March 2011, 16:30
Some of those videos are really unpleasant.
S.J.M (@sjm)
11th March 2011, 20:53
Sadly its too true.
Wouldnt wish that level of destruction on anyone and can only offer my thoughts to todays victims.
kaoru
11th March 2011, 16:32
It was a huge quake I’ve not experienced before, being in chiba 30 km south east from tokyo even far from epicentre.
Yet swaying by aftershocks and not lift tsunami warning…
Maciek
11th March 2011, 17:15
Keep us up to date if you can! Take good care.
kaoru
11th March 2011, 17:58
Thanks!
I’m okay except that aftershocks hinder my sleep.
Steph (@)
11th March 2011, 18:24
Absolutely take care and best wishes!
kaoru
11th March 2011, 19:07
OMG
Another huge quake hits Nagano pref…
slr
11th March 2011, 19:42
That’s terrible, I heard it’s just outside of the Nagano Prefacture.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
12th March 2011, 2:15
@ kaoru
Take care & stay safe.
John HT
11th March 2011, 16:36
My thoughts and prayers go out to them :-(
slr
11th March 2011, 16:46
Some of the images I have seen are unbelievable, I really hope those affected can recover quickly.
Faraz
11th March 2011, 16:50
My thoughts and feelings with the families who have been affected
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
11th March 2011, 17:32
Really sad news :(
Merk
11th March 2011, 18:18
So much tragedy in recent years as a result of mother nature.
All the best to those impacted.
sato113 (@sato113)
11th March 2011, 19:31
my prayers go out to them!
UneedAFinn2Win
11th March 2011, 21:04
The only “upside” in this tragedy is the fact that Japan is probably the best prepared nation on this planet for this situation. They will persevere.
That said, I hope for the best for everyone affected in any capacity.
magnafw07
12th March 2011, 5:34
You have to see it to believe it. The buildings in this country are built to withstand forces that would decimate other places.
Yesterday was horrbile enough in Tokyo, I can only imagine how it was up North. The images and videos Ive seen on twitter and tv have been truly terrifying. Please hug your loved ones as you never know when something like this is going to hit.
soundscape
12th March 2011, 12:16
Unfortunately Japan’s economy isn’t in great shape. This epic natural disaster has come at a pretty awful time. They’re going to be doing it tough.
alan
11th March 2011, 21:57
Absolutely terrible
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
12th March 2011, 2:14
Really bad, it was a high magnitude quake.My thoughts are with the people. to other coastal area around Japan please go to higher ground above 10 meters as there are speculation that more tsunami are expected in neighboring country around Japan.
Mike
12th March 2011, 3:59
My thoughts are also with people in Japan.
I read 8.9, unbelievable.
Tom
12th March 2011, 3:51
My thoughts are with you Japan. I hope that kamui’s family are ok. Any more news on the reactors?
kaoru
12th March 2011, 6:34
Fortunately Amagasaki city where his family live are completely safe from the earthquake and tsunami, but he may well have friends or relatives living in the disaster area.
First reactor of Fukushima 1st nuclear power plant seems to be the most critical. Japan gov confirms a part of fuel rods melting in the reactor.
Pink Pirelli
12th March 2011, 8:42
This is just awful for the people of Japan. My thoughts are with them.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
12th March 2011, 10:42
I read somewhere that nearly seven hundred bodies were found on a beach near Sendai, and it could be about to get worse – there are serious fears that the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant could experience a full-scale nuclear meltdown. The reactor cooling system failed in the aftermath of the earthquake, and attempts to stabilise the reactor core by having coolant flown in from a nearby US Air Force base appear to have done little, if anything. In the past few hours, there has been an explosion in the plant, and the Japanese authorities are trying to do everything they can to prevent the nuclear fuel rods from melting. There are unconfirmed reports that spent uranium may have escaped the plant and entered the water table.
Wesley
13th March 2011, 0:03
One of my co-workers has a brother in Japan,he said the biggest concern now is the nuclear power plant.What a terrible tragedy.The videos of the tsunami make me cringe.Seems like the whole world is undergoing natural disasters,terrorism and revolutions.
Steve the Engineer
14th March 2011, 1:18
There are times when sport is insignificant. Even a great sport like F1 pales with this week’s news of the devastation and loss of life. Pray for the good people of Japan.