(CNN)-- Kamui ... 23-year-old Japanese finished ninth in Brazil and a magnificent sixth in Abu Dhabi, he appeared certain to be handed a permanent drive with Toyota -- before their withdrawal from F1.

Kamui Kobayashi arrived in Formula One at the tail-end of the 2009 campaign, immediately impressing with his pace and control after an indifferent climb up the motorsport ladder. Unsurprisingly ...

Lauda was the leader to begin the season, ahead by 23 points after ten races ... accident that tragically halted his F1 career just months later. Kamui Kobayashi’s 2012 home podium In 2012 ...

Kamui Kobayashi was fast on the Daytona International Speedway throughout the early hours of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. He also made a lot of fans in the DIS media center after his refreshing ...

One fan tweeted, "That Suzuka podium in 2012 was pure magic for Kamui Kobayashi! Japan has such a rich F1 history, can’t wait to see what the Japanese GP has in store this time! #F1." ...