Kobayashi retains Sauber seat for 2011

Japan's Kamui Kobayashi has retained his seat at the Swiss-based Sauber team for 2011, meaning he will stay on in the sport for a second full season next year. Kobayashi joined Sauber in December 2009 following the sudden withdrawal of Toyota from Formula One, and has proven his worth this year with a string of strong performances in the C29.

Kobayashi arrived in Formula One with significant single-seater experience, and won the GP2 Asia Series crown in 2009. Later that year, when Timo Glock was injured at the Japanese Grand Prix, he was drafted in to replace the German at Toyota for the final two rounds, and was expected to be signed to the team for 2010 until the car giant pulled out last November.