Breaking news
Formula E
Kobayashi could keep Andretti seat for Marrakesh
Ex-Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi could continue with the Andretti Formula E team this season after his Hong Kong series debut last weekend.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Dec 6, 2017, 12:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Tom Blomqvist, who raced for BMW in the DTM this season, was named on the FIA’s entry list for the 2017/18 ahead of last weekend’s double-header.
However, Toyota LMP1 driver Kobayashi partnered Antonio Felix da Costa instead, to the satisfaction of the series and Andretti’s main backer MS&AD, a major Japanese insurance company.
Kobayashi had no on-track Formula E experience prior to the race weekend but qualified 13th and 16th, then finished 15th and 17th after a pair of problem-hit races.
The expectation had been for Blomqvist to make his debut in Marrakesh, but Andretti co-team principal Roger Griffiths told Motorsport.com Kobayashi’s performance had “not made the decision any easier”.
Griffiths said: “The plan was always, ‘We’ll do this weekend and we’ll make no promises to anybody’.
“We’ve got to review how he got on, look at his qualifying performance and his race pace, his ability to save energy. I’m sure there’ll be a number of telephone calls [with BMW].
“We know he’s keen to do more races, we’ve just got to see how that fits with the overall programme.”
Andretti must confirm its Marrakesh drivers by the end of 2017.
It used one of its two permitted driver changes drafting Kobayashi for Hong Kong, but reverting to Blomqvist will not count as another.
BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt said it wants Blomqvist to gain experience in Formula E and “the sooner he can do that the better”, but said the call is Andretti’s.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article No Formula E race in India until 2019, warns Mahindra
Next article Punta del Este replaces Sao Paulo race on Formula E schedule
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Kamui Kobayashi
WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza
WEC
WEC
Monza
WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza
Toyota drivers predict faster lap times and “plenty of fighting” ahead at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Toyota drivers predict faster lap times and “plenty of fighting” ahead at Le Mans
Kobayashi to return to WTR for Daytona Cadillac attack
IMSA
IMSA
Kobayashi to return to WTR for Daytona Cadillac attack
More from
Andretti Autosport
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
IndyCar
IndyCar
Laguna Seca
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
IndyCar
IndyCar
Markham
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
IndyCar
IndyCar
Portland
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
Latest news
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
10 min
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
How Aston Martin’s fuel gamble in Monza WEC fell short by just three seconds
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
53 min
How Aston Martin’s fuel gamble in Monza WEC fell short by just three seconds
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Brad Keselowski expects "lots of soul searching" in off-season as he reflects on 2026
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe