Kamui Kobayashi says Caterham haven’t begun tapping the potential of their CT05 after a series of problems during the first race weekend of the season.
Kobayashi failed to set a time during Friday practice in Australia and crashed out on the first lap of the race when his rear brakes failed.
“It was a very difficult week for us because we missed the Friday,” he said.
The team managed some running in final practice, but “unfortunately we have not much time to change any settings during the practice three to qualifying” Kobayashi explained. “So we went into Q2, which is really happy, but I think we had a lot more potential than what we have. Still we didn’t bring any potential from the car.”
Kobayashi described the moment he discovered his brakes were not working properly at the start of the race: “In this point I feel really straightaway, I was like panic because I felt I was really crazy, because my car it doesn’t stop.”
The Caterham struck Felipe Massa’s car putting both out of the race. “I feel really sorry to Felipe,” said Kobayashi. “I don’t want to crash like that and I don’t want to end up like that but that’s what happened.”
2014 Malaysian Grand Prix
- Hamilton adds Driver of the Weekend to Malaysia grand slam
- F1 lap times in Malaysia slowest since first race
- Malaysian Grand Prix fails to excite
- 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
- 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix team radio transcript
Image © Caterham/LAT
Mouse_Nightshirt (@mouse_nightshirt)
27th March 2014, 10:29
I’m really hoping this is true – I’d like the “new” teams to finally make a proper dent in the championship.
I also like the way Kamui put his hands up straight away when he thought it was his fault. Not many drivers would do that these days.
BasCB (@bascb)
27th March 2014, 11:20
Agree with that on both accounts @mouse_nightshirt
gwenouille (@gwenouille)
27th March 2014, 21:58
BTW, did FM react to the fact that the BBW was to blame and not sololy KKobayashi ? Did he somehow apologize to KK ? He was rather harsh when he asked for a ban straightaway…
Alex de Brito (@corix)
28th March 2014, 1:29
I don’t think so. I’m brazilian and I’ve never really supported Massa (and I don’t really know anyone who does), mostly because of him always behaving like this.
Paul (@frankjaeger)
27th March 2014, 20:46
I was gonna call you up on the grammar mistakes in Kobayashi’s quotes, but then I realised it was Kobayashi speaking… : )