Kamui Kobayashi returned to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car for the first time in more than a decade today as he is testing for Haas in France.
The Toyota World Endurance Championship team principal and driver started 75 grands prix between 2009 and 2014.The test has come about as Toyota forged a technical partnership with Haas last year. Under the deal Toyota is providing design and manufacturing services to Haas while the F1 team is offering opportunities for Toyota’s junior drivers to run in their cars under the series’ Testing of Previous Cars regulations.
The manufacturer has placed its WEC driver Ryo Hirakawa at the team as a reserve driver. Hirakawa made his second of four planned appearances in practice sessions for the team last week.
Kobayashi, 38, is driving for Haas at the Paul Ricard circuit, formerly the home of the French Grand Prix. He made his F1 debut for Toyota’s works team at the end of 2009.
However Toyota withdrew from F1 at the end of the season. Kobayashi was picked up by BMW Sauber the following year. He achieved the most recent podium finish for a Japanese driver when he came third for the team in 2012 (by which time it was again competing as Sauber) at Suzuka.
After a year out in 2013, Kobayashi returned to F1 with Caterham the following year. That team ran into financial difficulties, however, and Kobayashi made his final appearance in F1 when they bowed out of the series at the end of 2014.
Since then he has enjoyed a successful career in WEC, first as a driver and lately also as a team manager. He shared the WEC title and victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours with team mates Jose Maria Lopez and Mike Conway in 2021.
This article will be updated.
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Chris Horton
5th June 2025, 11:21
Always thought Kobayashi was unfairly treated.
Great driver who never quite got the chance he deserved.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
5th June 2025, 11:59
Bring him back!
Jere (@jerejj)
5th June 2025, 12:38
Too late
bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
5th June 2025, 12:09
I don’t follow WEC so much and didn’t know he was a team manager. In F1 his ‘late on the brakes’ approach was good fun. Not really sure why Haas are doing this test with Kamui other than Hass & Toyota being nice and probably money. But happy for Kamui, I’m sure he had fun.
Dex
6th June 2025, 5:50
They are doing it because it was part of the deal. This is one of the things have have to give from their side.
Luke S (@joeypropane)
5th June 2025, 12:15
I think we all miss “Banzai” on the grid – was rarely dull to watch when he had the decent Sauber under him.
Deerhunter
5th June 2025, 12:29
Man, still remember his debut in Suzuka 2010 where he made some very memorable divebombs into the hairpin in the pre-DRS era.
Never really that consistent enough for F1, but glad he could at least have a Le Mans win in his trophy cabinet by the end of his career
Patrick (@paeschli)
6th June 2025, 3:39
From what I remember he was pretty even with Perez during their time together. Seems like Perez longer career (due to financial backing) eventually landed him a spot in a top team while KK had to bow out. F1 is not always fair.
anon
6th June 2025, 11:12
@paeschli there was the argument at the time that Kobayashi’s career at Sauber was effectively ended by Hulkenberg, given that he was chosen to replace Kobayashi. Whilst Kobayashi is given plaudits for his performances, Hulkenberg is usually rated as a better driver amongst fans, so there are those who think that Sauber probably did make the right decision in replacing Kobayashi with Hulkenberg for 2013.
Erk
6th June 2025, 16:26
No, Kobayashi had better results overall. His issue was lack of funding and if you realised, he was replaced by Gutierrez as Sauber were desperate for $$$. Hulkenberg was always mediocre
Coli
5th June 2025, 13:52
KK!
faulty (@faulty)
5th June 2025, 16:33
I take “testing” to mean “evaluating”.
But only because he is team principal of Toyota’s WEC programme.
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
5th June 2025, 18:08
I always sorta felt that the introduction of DRS hurt Kamui because it took away the thing that often helped him stand out which was his brilliant late braking dives up the inside.
But as soon as DRS came in (Along with the Pirelli high-deg tires at there most extreme) and it made overtaking so much easier that we were suddenly seeing loads of it on a majority of the circuits it just sort of took away the thing that had helped him gain attention and stand out a bit.
Jane (@janedone)
6th June 2025, 7:58
Good point and introduction of DRS is when F1 racing goes downhill for me.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
5th June 2025, 18:16
I thought Kobayashi looked poor in his last season 12 years ago…. Yes the car was poor, but his team mate was a rookie Ericsson, who basically more or less matched him. Kobayashi certainly was pretty good, but that was almost 15 years ago.
In F1, I think he’ll be no good anyway more. But as he and Ericsson have proved, both can be good at other motorsports.
Erk
6th June 2025, 16:28
The car was undrivable for large parts of the year. Ericsson scored the best result but was largely out driven by Kobayashi. Can’t show much with what was clearly the worst car that year
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
5th June 2025, 19:54
So considering he’s not a junior driver, I wonder what the point of this “test” is.
Free_B
5th June 2025, 21:28
Why??!!
Simon
5th June 2025, 23:26
2nd & 3rd paragraph, that’s why
Paul (@frankjaeger)
5th June 2025, 23:02
I would make my year if KK was back on the grid. What an exciting racer to watch, an absolute mean overtaker!!
Maciek (@maciek)
6th June 2025, 4:48
Kamui! <3
Haas Khan (@haas918)
7th June 2025, 19:18
A comeback is possible at 38, looking forward to see see him race again in F1.