Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi said Tuesday that he has given up finding a Formula One team for the 2013 season.
Sauber did not renew Kobayashi’s contract after three years with the team, leaving Formula One without a Japanese driver for the first time in 10 years.
Kobayashi said he had raised 8 million euros (10.53 million dollars), partly in what he received from fans and corporation.
“Since the donation started, it has become quite big news in Japan. And because of your big support, it gave huge influences to some of Japanese companies and I started receiving good support from them,” Kobayashi said on his website.
“Unfortunately, the time was still short and I am not able to secure the seat with competitive F1 team for 2013. I have to admit that it is very sad and feel sorry for fans and Japanese companies who supported me. But I am still confident to make it happen in 2014,” he said.
Kobayashi also said he stopped the donation for now and would save all the money for 2014.
“I start to look what is the best option for 2013 and also 2014.
My main priority is to secure the competitive F1 seat in 2014” he said.
