• European Grand Prix

Sauber hails 'amazing' Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa brought home the points for sauber © Getty Images

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• Report:
• Vettel holds off Hamilton for victory
  

• Race:
• European Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Kamui Kobayashi

• Teams:
• Alfa Romeo

Sauber team boss hailed Kamui Kobayashi as 'absolutely amazing' after the Japanese driver finished seventh from a starting place of 18th at the European Grand Prix.

Kobayashi had been running as high as third until close to the end of the race after making the most of his hard tyres and safety car period.

"What a fantastic race, particularly considering where we were on the grid," said Sauber afterwards. "The team and the drivers did everything right today. Pedro delivered a very solid performance and scored one point, and Kamui was absolutely amazing. The lap times which he put in while he was in third were stunning. They prove how much potential there is in this car. Congratulations to the whole team and the drivers!"

For his part, Kobayashi said it had not been an easy race because he not only had Jenson Button behind him but he also had to look after his tyres.

"Before the race we had decided to use separate tyre strategies for Pedro and me. I started on the harder ones and didn't pit when everybody else did. It was great racing there at the front, but it was not easy either because I had Jenson Button close behind me all the time, and also I had to look after my tyres.

"I was careful not to overdrive them. After my pitstop I had only four laps to make use of my fresh tyres. At this moment I had better grip than anybody else, and I felt I had to make the most out of it. Of course it was a risk to overtake Alonso and Buemi. If it hadn't worked out and I had crashed I would have been in trouble."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.