The Caterham F1 Team has finally announced their 2014 line-up, with Kamui Kobayashi making a return to the sport alongside GP2 race winner Marcus Ericsson.
The team announced the news at their Leafield-based factory, meaning the grid for the up-coming season is now complete.
Kobayashi made his F1 debut in 2009 for Toyota, standing in for the injured Timo Glock in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. He then moved to Sauber for 2010, scoring a number of strong results before being dropped at the end of 2012.
After being left without a seat on the grid last year, the Japanese driver moved to sportscar racing with AF Corse in the World Endurance Championship, making his Le Mans 24 Hours debut and finishing fifth in the GTE Pro class.
Meanwhile his rookie team-mate Marcus Ericsson becomes the latest driver to graduate from GP2. Despite competing in nearly 100 races in the feeder series, he has only three wins (two feature and one sprint) to his name.
However, he did show some strong potential during his final year racing for DAMS. He scored four other podiums and started from pole position on two occasions. He is thought to come with substantial financial backing, something that ultimately cost former Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen a drive with the team.
Ericsson will become the first Swedish driver to race in F1 since Stefan Johansson drove for Footwork in four rounds of the 1991 F1 season.
Speaking about the confirmation, Kobayashi said: "It’s a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver and I’m really pleased it’s with Caterham F1 Team. We’ve been talking to Cyril and Tony since last year about driving for the team for 2014 and beyond and 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. I will do my very best to lead the team and work as hard as possible to achieve our targets.
"From what I’ve seen, Caterham now has everything in place to progress this year and for many seasons to come. We’re all realistic about what we can actually achieve this year, and until we’ve run the car properly at the tests it’s still too early to see where we are compared to the other teams, but whatever happens we have to move forwards this year. For me, it’s a chance to start again with a new team but one that’s serious about progressing, and for the team, 2014 is the first chance to show what they can do with all the people and infrastructure they’ve built up in Leafield since moving there in 2012. Physically and mentally I’m fully prepared, now I just want to get back to work."
Ericsson said: "This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true. I’ll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham F1 Team in 2014 and I’m already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular.
"This is what I’ve been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I’m ready for the step up to F1. Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 - learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses. We have a big task in front of us but it’s an exciting one, and one both the team and I are ready for."
Meanwhile Alexander Rossi and Robin Frijns will be the team's reserve drivers. Rossi will continue to drive for Caterham Racing in GP2, partnering Rio Haryanto.
So it is all change at the 'green team' as we enter the 2014 season. Giedo van der Garde has switched to Sauber as their reserve driver and Charles Pic is also thought to be looking for a third driver role.
For a full look at the full 2014 grid, go here.
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| © Octane Photographic |
Kobayashi made his F1 debut in 2009 for Toyota, standing in for the injured Timo Glock in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. He then moved to Sauber for 2010, scoring a number of strong results before being dropped at the end of 2012.
After being left without a seat on the grid last year, the Japanese driver moved to sportscar racing with AF Corse in the World Endurance Championship, making his Le Mans 24 Hours debut and finishing fifth in the GTE Pro class.
Meanwhile his rookie team-mate Marcus Ericsson becomes the latest driver to graduate from GP2. Despite competing in nearly 100 races in the feeder series, he has only three wins (two feature and one sprint) to his name.
However, he did show some strong potential during his final year racing for DAMS. He scored four other podiums and started from pole position on two occasions. He is thought to come with substantial financial backing, something that ultimately cost former Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen a drive with the team.
Ericsson will become the first Swedish driver to race in F1 since Stefan Johansson drove for Footwork in four rounds of the 1991 F1 season.
Speaking about the confirmation, Kobayashi said: "It’s a great feeling to be back as an F1 race driver and I’m really pleased it’s with Caterham F1 Team. We’ve been talking to Cyril and Tony since last year about driving for the team for 2014 and beyond and 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. I will do my very best to lead the team and work as hard as possible to achieve our targets.
"From what I’ve seen, Caterham now has everything in place to progress this year and for many seasons to come. We’re all realistic about what we can actually achieve this year, and until we’ve run the car properly at the tests it’s still too early to see where we are compared to the other teams, but whatever happens we have to move forwards this year. For me, it’s a chance to start again with a new team but one that’s serious about progressing, and for the team, 2014 is the first chance to show what they can do with all the people and infrastructure they’ve built up in Leafield since moving there in 2012. Physically and mentally I’m fully prepared, now I just want to get back to work."
Ericsson said: "This is a very proud day for me and everyone who has helped make my F1 dream come true. I’ll be making the step up to F1 with Caterham F1 Team in 2014 and I’m already excited about the season ahead, and the first race in Australia in particular.
"This is what I’ve been working for since I first started racing karts back when I was nine years old, and now I know I’m ready for the step up to F1. Caterham is a young team and together we can take on the challenges the new rules will present in 2014 - learning together and continuing to develop as the season progresses. We have a big task in front of us but it’s an exciting one, and one both the team and I are ready for."
Meanwhile Alexander Rossi and Robin Frijns will be the team's reserve drivers. Rossi will continue to drive for Caterham Racing in GP2, partnering Rio Haryanto.
So it is all change at the 'green team' as we enter the 2014 season. Giedo van der Garde has switched to Sauber as their reserve driver and Charles Pic is also thought to be looking for a third driver role.
For a full look at the full 2014 grid, go here.
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