F1 Madness

Tag: driver announcement

  • Caterham Announce Kobayashi & Ericsson

    Caterham Announce Kobayashi & Ericsson

    Caterham CEO Tony Fernandes announced earlier today that Kamui Kobayashi and rookie Marcus Ericsson will complete their driver line-up in 2014.

    Japan’s Kobayashi returns to Formula 1 after a year’s racing for Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship. Kobayashi made a sensational Formula 1 debut as a stand-in driver for Toyota during the 2009 season which followed with a stint of racing with Sauber from 2010-12.

    Kobayashi was quoted as saying that it “was great” to be back in Formula 1 with the Caterham team. “Throughout all our discussions I’ve been very impressed with where they want to take the team, and how much investment has been made already to help them achieve their goals,” Kobayashi told AUTOSPORT.

    Marcus Ericsson graduates from GP2 to partner Kobayashi at Caterham for 2014.

    “This is a very proud day for me and everyone has helped make my F1 dream come true. I’ll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham in 2014 and I’m already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular,” Ericsson shared with AUTOSPORT.

    2013 Caterham driver Giedo van der Garde has inked a deal with Sauber as the team’s test and reserve driver.

    Image courtesy of @tedkravitz via Twitter

  • Driver Announcement: Sutil to Sauber

    Driver Announcement: Sutil to Sauber

    The Sauber F1 Team has confirmed that Adrian Sutil will form part of its driver line-up for the 2014 season.

    The German driver has 109 grand prix starts in his F1 career and all of them has been with the Sahara Force India team. Force India have signed Nico Hulkenberg, from Sauber, and Sergio Perez from McLaren.

    “I am very happy that we found common ground,” said Sutil. “Although I have known for a while where I wanted to go, in the end the negotiations took a bit longer than planned. However, now I will have all the more reason to celebrate during the Christmas season.

    “After six good years driving for Force India, with a lot of highlights, it’s now time to embark on a new challenge. I am determined to do my part in order to have a successful future together with the Sauber F1 team.”

    The 2014 move to Sauber will be the first time that Sutil has raced for a different team in Formula 1. He joined the Midland team in 2007 which would later transform to its current guise of Force India.

    Sutil’s best result in Formula 1 remains a fourth place at the 2009 Italian grand prix.

  • Driver Announcement: Bianchi to Remain at Marussia

    Jules_Bianchi_2012-1The Marussia team has announced that Jules Bianchi will remain with the team in 2014.

    The Frenchman has delivered solid performances for Marussia since making his debut in Australia at the beginning of the season. The move to retain Bianchi, a Ferrari Academy protegé, comes as no surprise as he has had the better of teammate Max Chilton for the better part of the season.

    Bianchi was full of praise for the Marussia team. “I couldn’t have wished for a more supportive environment in which to make my F1 debut and from the very beginning I have always felt completely at home with the team,” said Bianchi.

    Team Principal John Booth echoed his sentiment and said that consistently is vital part of making a success of the 2014 season.