Sunday, October 26, 2025
Submit Press Release
Got Action
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
Got Action
No Result
View All Result

At Toyota Gazoo Racing, Kamui Kobayashi Is the Boss and a Driver

May 7, 2025
in Formula 1
0 0
0
Home Formula 1
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Kamui Kobayashi has been racing for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the F.I.A. World Endurance Championship for nine years, winning the championship twice. He will be behind the wheel for the team in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.

And since 2022, he has also been the team principal. While team leaders like Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Red Bull in Formula 1 came up as drivers, Kobayashi holds a rare dual role on such a high-profile team.

“I was obviously quite surprised as I didn’t expect it,” Kobayashi said of being offered the role. “I’m proud, and I appreciate the opportunity. For sure it’s not easy to be doing things together at the same time, but at the end of the day I adjusted and it’s gone well. I’m not going to do everything myself, we have a lot of guys at the team.

“I’m still passionate for driving fast cars as much as I can,” he said, joking that he just needs extra time in each day.

“Instead of sitting and having coffee, you’re having an extra meeting, but at the end of the day it’s part of the job, and I enjoy it,” he said. “Once you involve so many people, and you have to decide one thing, the responsibility is higher; it’s not easy.”

Under Kobayashi, one of three drivers of the No. 7 car, the sister No. 8 crew won the 2022 and 2023 Drivers’ Championship, with the No. 7 making it a one-two in 2023. Toyota won the Manufacturers’ Championship in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Sébastien Buemi has raced the No. 8 car since 2012, taking two of his four Drivers’ titles under the leadership of Kobayashi, whom he has known since they raced in Formula 3 in 2005.

“I have the feeling he didn’t change that much,” Buemi said of Kobayashi. “He was already very involved in the Japanese side of the company and was trying to have strong communication within the company. It’s true sometimes we see he has a lot of work, he has to leave for the track earlier or stay later, and we see he does work hard — we don’t exactly know all he’s doing — but I think obviously he’s proven that it has worked quite well since that decision came.”

The team’s base is in Cologne, Germany, but the team also has operations and technological development in Japan. Buemi said he believed that Kobayashi — a Toyota-backed driver who competed in 76 Formula 1 Grands Prix — had brought better cohesion between the parties, merging different cultures and working practices. He has also promoted stronger attention to detail in the championship, where eight manufacturers now compete.

“I think it’s an evolution, but he’s tried to strengthen the communication between drivers and management and engineers, and we have a good structure,” Buemi said. “We’ve been around for a long time, so I don’t think there’s anything we do very wrong, but in my opinion he has improved the link — I wouldn’t say we’re more heard than before — but it works better, it’s put a bit of oil in the structures, he understands both limitations. Having six drivers is not easy, a lot of people to deal with, but I think we’ve done a much better job at communicating and extracting small details.”

Nyck de Vries was Toyota’s test and reserve driver from 2020 to 2022 before rejoining the team in 2024 after a stint in Formula 1. He races alongside Kobayashi in the No. 7 car.

“I remember watching Kamui when I was younger; I was karting and he was in Formula 1,” de Vries said. “My sister was a fan of Kamui growing up, we had a T-shirt of him, and I really remember the race he stood on the podium in the Japanese Grand Prix.”

He added that it was an honor to be his teammate, “more so for everything he has achieved as a driver, and what he has done in his career, the raw speed and talent that he has, rather than necessarily him being the boss.”

The other drivers said that Kobayashi receives no special treatment once he’s behind the wheel.

“I share the car with the boss,” de Vries said. “I think as teammates I don’t feel that hierarchy at all. I feel like we’re all very much the same, and we are working together to achieve the best possible results collectively as a team and for the team. We’re all in it with the same objectives and goals.”

Buemi recalled a race in Bahrain in 2024 when Kobayashi prioritized the other car over his own.

“They were still fighting for the championship,” he said, “but they had an issue on their car, and he was one of the first to say, ‘OK, let’s just park Car 7 make sure we get the most out of Car 8, as we are out of contention.’ I’m not sure everyone would have done that in that situation, especially when you fight for the world championship. In the end we managed to win the Manufacturers’ title, but he was one of the first to get the whole team behind Car 8 to make sure we got the win.

“Anyone would have expected things to go maybe more in his favor,” Buemi said, “but I’ve never seen any difference — you see the joy he has when Car 8 does well.”

Kobayashi still races in Super Formula and has dabbled in NASCAR and the I.M.S.A. WeatherTech Championship, believing such experiences can help his dual role in the W.E.C. He is also keen to ensure that he is just one of the team.

“I’m enjoying the time with the other drivers,” he said. “Of course, I have a little bit more extra jobs, but I do similar activities, we enjoy the time, we joke together — you can ask the other guys — but I don’t think I do something special.”



Source link

Tags: bossdriverGazooKamuiKobayashiRacingToyota
Previous Post

“Throw Some Punches!”: Rolly Romero Reveals Turki’s Desperate Corner Plea To A Listless Ryan Garcia

Next Post

Spa-Francorchamps: The Long History of a Famed Track

Related Posts

Norris looking to capitalise and Ferrari eyeing a first win of 2025
Formula 1

Norris looking to capitalise and Ferrari eyeing a first win of 2025

October 26, 2025
What are the tactical options for the Mexico City Grand Prix?
Formula 1

What are the tactical options for the Mexico City Grand Prix?

October 26, 2025
Catch up on FP3 from Mexico as Lando Norris tops the timesheets
Formula 1

Catch up on FP3 from Mexico as Lando Norris tops the timesheets

October 25, 2025
Arvid Lindblad admits being ‘nervous’ ahead of FP1 run in Mexico as he reflects on ‘really good’ session
Formula 1

Arvid Lindblad admits being ‘nervous’ ahead of FP1 run in Mexico as he reflects on ‘really good’ session

October 25, 2025
What the teams said – Friday at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix
Formula 1

What the teams said – Friday at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix

October 25, 2025
Charles Leclerc suggests Ferrari ‘on the back foot’ in Mexico compared to McLaren and Red Bull
Formula 1

Charles Leclerc suggests Ferrari ‘on the back foot’ in Mexico compared to McLaren and Red Bull

October 25, 2025
Next Post
Spa-Francorchamps: The Long History of a Famed Track

Spa-Francorchamps: The Long History of a Famed Track

Robert Kubica, a Former F1 Driver, Is on Top of Endurance Racing

Robert Kubica, a Former F1 Driver, Is on Top of Endurance Racing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots

Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots

August 26, 2025
Another listless, flat tire of a performance – Dodgers Digest

Another listless, flat tire of a performance – Dodgers Digest

August 21, 2025
Is Texas making the right call with reported coaching change?

Is Texas making the right call with reported coaching change?

March 24, 2025
How to Buy COTA Tickets – 2025 United States Grand Prix

How to Buy COTA Tickets – 2025 United States Grand Prix

March 12, 2025
Arthur Jones, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, dies at 39

Arthur Jones, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, dies at 39

October 4, 2025
Marte, Steer power Cincinnati Reds over Pittsburgh, 14-8

Marte, Steer power Cincinnati Reds over Pittsburgh, 14-8

August 10, 2025
Anthony Davis could return to Mavericks’ lineup during upcoming Eastern road trip: Report

Anthony Davis could return to Mavericks’ lineup during upcoming Eastern road trip: Report

489
Avious Griffin Highlights Boxing Insider Promotion’s Card By Stopping Jose Luis Sanchez In 9.

Avious Griffin Highlights Boxing Insider Promotion’s Card By Stopping Jose Luis Sanchez In 9.

42
Getting with the programme | Arseblog … an Arsenal blog

Getting with the programme | Arseblog … an Arsenal blog

6
Top 100 men’s NCAA basketball players ranked going into 2025-26

Top 100 men’s NCAA basketball players ranked going into 2025-26

0
Oregon’s Dante Moore leaves game after being hit in nose

Oregon’s Dante Moore leaves game after being hit in nose

0
NFL trade deadline: Could Cowboys trade Trevon Diggs?

NFL trade deadline: Could Cowboys trade Trevon Diggs?

0
Oregon’s Dante Moore leaves game after being hit in nose

Oregon’s Dante Moore leaves game after being hit in nose

October 26, 2025
NFL trade deadline: Could Cowboys trade Trevon Diggs?

NFL trade deadline: Could Cowboys trade Trevon Diggs?

October 26, 2025
Norris looking to capitalise and Ferrari eyeing a first win of 2025

Norris looking to capitalise and Ferrari eyeing a first win of 2025

October 26, 2025
Aston Villa formalise move to sign “complete” attacker wanted by Barcelona

Aston Villa formalise move to sign “complete” attacker wanted by Barcelona

October 26, 2025
Utah dominates Colorado 53-7 behind QB Byrd Ficklin – Deseret News

Utah dominates Colorado 53-7 behind QB Byrd Ficklin – Deseret News

October 26, 2025
Seattle Kraken place forward Jared McCann on injured reserve

Seattle Kraken place forward Jared McCann on injured reserve

October 26, 2025
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Pinterest
Got Action

Stay updated with the latest sports news, highlights, and expert analysis at Got Action. From football to basketball, we cover all your favorite sports. Get your daily dose of action now!

CATEGORIES

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Football
  • Formula 1
  • Golf
  • MLB
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NCAA Baseball
  • NCAA Basketball
  • NCAA Football
  • NCAA Sport
  • NFL
  • NHL
  • Tennis
  • Uncategorized

SITEMAP

  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Submit Press Release
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2025 Got Action.
Got Action is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
Submit Press Release

Copyright © 2025 Got Action.
Got Action is not responsible for the content of external sites.