Zitat"But even Total has a problem with this protege. The French oil company has a safety campaign for public roads, and the face of a 'crash driver' doesn't fit."
there are also rumors about Kobayashi looking for Lotus seat - both Kimi and Koba are very popular in Far East and this might work for commercial strategy of Lotus.
But everywhere is a note that it is Grosjean who most likely will get the seat.
Zitat Kobayashi now also touted as possible Grosjean replacement
Nov.29 (GMM) Kamui Kobayashi has entered the frame as a potential replacement for under fire Romain Grosjean at Lotus, according to Finland’s Turun Sanomat.
Earlier, the Finnish source MTV3 said Heikki Kovalainen – at risk of losing his Caterham seat – was now a candidate for Lotus, as the Enstone based team considers whether to keep Frenchman Grosjean on board.
Grosjean enjoys the support of team boss Eric Boullier and also the team’s important French backer Total, but it is believed the 26-year-old tumultuous 2012 season has sparked deliberations about whether he should keep the seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen.
Writing in Turun Sanomat, journalist Heikki Kulta said Lotus owner Gerard Lopez is wondering if having a more consistent driver alongside Raikkonen would be a wiser choice in terms of securing a more lucrative position in the constructors’ world championship.
“Kimi comes at a cost to us,” Lopez is quoted, “but on the other hand he helps us in the manufacturers’ standings, bringing even more money to the team.”
While Raikkonen scored 207 points this year, finishing third in the drivers’ table, Grosjean is just eighth, with 96.
Lotus finished fourth in the constructors’ title.
Kulta wrote that Japanese Kobayashi, who has been raising money via a support website to contribute to a 2013 employer, has entered the frame at Lotus after losing his Sauber seat to Esteban Gutierrez.
“It’s a shame for Romain, as not finishing his season in Brazil very well is a problem,” fellow Frenchman Alain Prost told RMC Sport.
“What’s more important, speed or reliability? That is what Lotus must decide,” he added.
Meanwhile, the much respected correspondent for Brazil’s O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Livio Oricchio, claims that Lotus is leaving open the second race seat for now amid its negotiations with potential team investors.
Oricchio said Lotus’ talks are with a group of investors involving none other than Bernie Ecclestone, who would promote a “very controversial” new team boss.
I hope Kobayashi get it, might have not had the standout performances like Perez, but unlike Perez he got his podium on merit, pure pace in the race and qualifying.
On Kovalainen, he was pretty much matched by Petrov who isn't rated by many and came in quite late into the team.
Zitat Buemi eyes Force India or Lotus seat for 2013
Sebastien Buemi of Switzerland and Red Bull Racing poses for a photo during the Red Bull Racing Filming Day on Circuit de Catalunya on February 17, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.Dec.3 (GMM) Former Toro Rosso driver, and current Red Bull reserve, Sebastien Buemi believes he is still in contention to secure the Force India race seat for 2013.
And the Swiss driver, who was dropped by Toro Rosso at the end of last year but subsequently signed up as Red Bull’s reserve driver, told the Blick newspaper that he might also be a candidate to replace the erratic Romain Grosjean at Lotus.
Blick said a new Red Bull deal for the 24-year-old is “on the table”.
Buemi said: “But I am waiting for Force India’s answer. And everything doesn’t seem clear at Lotus.
“Luckily for me, most teams have not forgotten about me. There’s no more I can do.”
Buemi’s career is currently being handled by Julian Jacobi, who is famous for being the great Ayrton Senna’s manager.
Also still in the running for the remaining 2013 vacancies is Kamui Kobayashi, whose website campaign to raise money from his fans for a race seat is running strongly.
Spain’s AS newspaper said the Japanese, who has been dropped by Sauber, has so far raised over EUR 1 million.
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Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:32 pm
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" title="greetings" /> I didn't know that Heikki won Loeb! Cool! 
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