Kamui Kobayashi has revealed that he was told to retire from today’s Russian Grand Prix by the management at Caterham F1 Team in a bid to save the mileage on his car.
The Japanese driver was one of just two drivers to not finish the race at the Sochi Autodrom today, but he revealed to NBCSN’s Will Buxton that he could have seen the checkered flag as there was nothing wrong with his car.
“I don’t know actually, nothing,” he said when asked what the problem was. “We could have done the race. Maybe I think management decided we’re not fighting with anyone, so we stop racing.
“I think we have limitations with the mileage and we want to save it. I don’t understand what happened, but this is what I get from the top management.”
Caterham is known to be struggling financially of late, having had some goods seized by bailiffs earlier this month. The team currently ranks last in the constructors’ championship, and is not expected to be on the grid in 2015.
Kobayashi has been racing at the back of the grid all year long for the team, and was asked by NBCSN if he regretted leaving a works drive with Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship to return to F1.
“I enjoy racing,” he said. “I had a chance to try this V6 engine with turbo, but I didn’t expect it to be so hard.”