Sunday: Kobayashi secures 7th place for Sauber
The Sauber team had only one objective at the Brazilian Grand Prix, to secure their 7th place in the constructors' championship. The Swiss team had a one-point lead over Toro Rosso, and thanks to Kamui Kobayashi's 9th place and Toro Rosso scoring zero points, Sauber F1 maintained their position. The Japanese driver was delighted with his race and performance. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, had a more challenging afternoon as his car was set up for rain, which ultimately did not appear.
Kamui Kobayashi – 9th
The team did a very good job recovering from a catastrophic qualifying. I had a good start and a strong pace. We worked a lot on our race pace, and I’m happy to have scored points in the last two races of the season. It was important for us to finish ahead of Toro Rosso, and I’m proud that we managed to do it.
The strategy was good just like the car – a big thank you to all the guys. After experiencing a difficult second half of the season, we have a lot of work to do this winter. I think it’s good that we have the same team with the same drivers, but we want to be even stronger (in 2012).
Sergio Perez – 13th
The main goal for the team today was to secure 7th place in the championship, and I’m happy that we managed it, even though I didn’t contribute this time. As a team, I think we’re all looking forward to next season. After everything that’s happened, I’m pleased with my first season in Formula 1. I’ve learned a lot and with experience, I want to do even better in 2012. My race wasn’t as good as I had hoped today, though. The start was good, but we had opted for wet settings and the rear tires tended to overheat. The car was difficult to drive and I’m sorry for the spin I had mid-race.
Peter Sauber – Director of the Sauber F1 team
« It was an important result today. We managed to gain a place in the constructors’ championship compared to last year, which is good for the team’s morale. Kamui had a fantastic race, quickly gaining positions at the start and driving fast afterwards to score two more points. A big thank you to the whole team here, in Hinwil, and to our partner Ferrari. »
