---
title: "End of Season Review: Caterham"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2014/11/25/end-of-season-review-caterham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Connor McDonagh"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2014-11-25T17:25:07Z"
modified: "2014-11-25T17:25:07Z"
---

# End of Season Review: Caterham

[![12071645003_ef0d781155_z](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/12071645003_ef0d781155_z-300x199.jpg)](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/12071645003_ef0d781155_z.jpg)After missing out on tenth in the constructor’s championship in 2013, Caterham went into 2014 with optimism that they could reclaim tenth spot from rivals Marussia. It was all change in terms of their driver line-up as Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson would drive the CT05 as Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde left the team.

Like in 2013, Caterham would be supplied by Renault . The V6 power unit provided problems for all of the Renault powered teams leaving them on the back foot in comparison with their Mercedes and Ferrari powered rivals. Immediately from testing it was apparent it was going to be another season of struggle for the Leafield based team and with finance always a problem at the lower reaches of the Formula One grid – it remained to be seen whether Caterham could compete competitively or at all.

After a year out of the sport, Kamui Kobayashi returned to Formula One after spending three seasons with Sauber, finishing on the podium on one occasion. Making the jump from GP2 was Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson who brought substantial financial backing to the team which would be crucial after Caterham missed out on tenth in the constructor’s championship which is the last money paying position in terms of the prize money. Owner at the time, Tony Fernandes stated upon launch of the Ct05 said that 2014 would be ”an important year for the team” – Caterham had yet scored points in their opening four seasons indicating Fernandes wanted improvement in terms of results or he would walk away from the sport, which he eventually did part way through the season.

Despite a strong qualifying from Kamui Kobayashi at the season opener in Australia, the race ended badly for the Japanese driver as he out-braked himself into turn one colliding with Williams driver Felipe Massa. Marcus Ericsson’s race did not go any better as he was forced to retire due to a technical problem. On the other hand, two weeks later in Kuala Lumpur saw the team score their strongest result since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix as Kobayashi came home in a respectable thirteenth position with teammate Ericsson a place behind in fourteenth. In 2013, a thirteenth placed finish from Jules Bianchi at the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix ensured Marussia would finish tenth in the constructor’s championship – showing it was a strong result for Caterham and could be crucial come the end of the season.

Kobayashi consistently out-qualified teammate Ericsson and rivals Marussia in the opening five races of the season however in Monaco, the shift in power amongst Formula One’s two slowest teams shifted as Jules Bianchi came home ninth at the Monaco Grand Prix to score the teams maiden Formula One points and move into ninth in the Constructor’s Championship. Marcus Ericsson scored Caterham’s best result by finishing eleventh however it was not enough for Caterham to score their first Formula One points.

A double retirement at the Canadian Grand Prix and a lacklustre showing at the Spielburg, Austria indicated it was unlikely the Caterham team would score points this season. At the British Grand Prix, rivals Marussia qualified twelfth and thirteenth respectively whilst Caterham were outside the 107% rule. In July, Caterham announced that it was now owned by a consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors, advised by former HRT Team Principal Colin Kolles. Former Formula One driver, Christijan Albers, assisted by Manfredi Ravetto, became responsible for the day-to-day running of the team.

Surprisingly, Kamui Kobayashi was replaced for the upcoming race in Spa-Francorchamps by Le Mans driver Andre Lotterer who despite a lack of Formula One testing, out-qualified team-mate Marcus Ericsson by one second.

On track performances continued to be poor but off track matters turned for the worse in mid-October as the team announced they had entered administration – A statement issued on behalf of Caterham said that the administrators, Smith & Williamson, were now in control of the team. Subsequently, Caterham missed the United States and Brazilian Grand Prix as the team looked for a prospective buyer however they were unsuccessful thus turning to a crowd funding project. The team eventually raised 2.3 million meaning they could return to racing at the season finale in Abu Dhabi where Kamui Kobayashi partnered Will Stevens – despite their efforts to make the grid, Kobayashi retired whilst Stevens finished last on his Formula One début.

With the team still looking for a potential investor, it remains to be seen whether they will be on the grid in 2015.

**Kamui Kobayashi 0 points/ 22nd in the Drivers’ Championship**

After being ousted by Sauber in 2012, Kobayashi returned to Formula One with Caterham. The Japanese driver demonstrated his sheer speed and aggressive driving whilst driving for Sauber for three seasons which would be useful in assisting Caterham beat rivals Marussia. Kobayashi’s best finish came at the Malaysian Grand Prix where he finished a respectable thirteenth place however Ericsson’s best finish is slightly better as the Swede finished eleventh at the Monaco Grand Prix – one position outside the points. In terms of qualifying, Kobayashi consistently out-performed teammate Marcus Ericsson by a substantial margin. Ultimately, it was always going to be difficult for the Japanese driver to shine at Caterham and it proved to be the case this season.

**Marcus Ericsson 0 points/ 19th in the Drivers’ Championship**

Many Formula One fans were shocked when Tony Fernandes announced 24-year old Marcus Ericsson as one of their two drivers for 2014. The Swede had a mediocre record in GP2 only finishing sixth in the Drivers’ Championship in 2013 despite having a competitive car. Ericsson improved throughout the season after a couple of errors early on – he hit Felipe Massa during qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix which resulted in two-penalty points and a grid penalty which meant he would start at the back of the grid however he recovered to eleventh place. At the Japanese, he out-qualified both Marussia’s and Kobayashi whilst at the inaugural race in Sochi, he qualified in a career-best 17th position and this time, less than a tenth shy from making into Q2.

Overall, Ericsson performed poorly and was consistently out-performed by Kobayashi and Lotterer (in his one race with the team) however Sauber announced Ericsson would be driving for the team in 2015 alongside Brazilian Felipe Nasr.

## Performance comparison

|  | **Kamui Kobayashi** | **Marcus Ericsson** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Qualified ahead | 10 | 4 |
| Average qualifying gap | -0.668s | +0.669s |
| Finished race ahead | 5 | 2 |
| Laps spent ahead | 454 | 110 |

It is difficult to predict what Caterham can achieve in 2015, for me, if they make it to the grid in Australia, that will be a major achievement in itself.