In a last-ditch effort to move up the grid, Caterham overlooked some of the most lucrative ‘pay drivers’ for the 2014 season.<\/p>\n
Although his fans pledged their own money towards his return to F1, the popular and feisty Kamui Kobayashi admitted he is only contributing a modest amount – less than $2 million – to the Tony Fernandes-led team’s budget.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately it is not enough to get a seat,” the Japanese told Britain’s Sky, “but hopefully this is a good indication and a message to Tony Fernandes”.<\/p>\n
And also in contrast to his main race seat rival Heikki Kovalainen, who needed to be paid a salary in 2014, Kobayashi revealed that he will be driving for nothing this year.<\/p>\n
That is despite the fact Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali offered him a new deal to race GT sports cars in 2014, where he would have been paid real money.<\/p>\n
“Stefano is not happy I didn’t take it,” Kobayashi smiled, “but it (racing for free) is my decision, my approach and this appeals to Tony, this was my message to Tony.”<\/p>\n
Indeed, Fernandes said that while the contribution of Kobayashi’s fans is appreciated, the less than $2 million offering “makes no difference” in the context of massive F1 budgets.<\/p>\n
It is those massive budgets, and a lack of success so far, that have Air Asia chief Fernandes’ patience almost at an end for formula one.<\/p>\n
Frustrated by the uphill battle to level the playing field in pitlane, he admitted that 2014 could be Caterham’s last roll of the dice.<\/p>\n
“If we’re at the back again I don’t think I’m going to carry on,” he said during a media day at the team’s Leafield base.<\/p>\n
“Nothing is set in stone, but after five years with no points there is a limit to one’s patience, money, motivation, so it’s an important year,” added Fernandes.<\/p>\n
Another example of Caterham’s final push is that it is moving its wind tunnel programme this year into the state-of-the-art Toyota facility in Cologne, as also used by Ferrari.<\/p>\n
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