Recently unemployed Toyota driver Kamui Kobayashi has expressed his interest in taking a seat with upcoming team Lotus F1 in 2010. Kobayashi, who impressed many in the F1 paddock in the final 2 races of the 2009 season when replacing injured Timo Glock, was linked with a permanent drive with Toyota. That was, until they suddenly quit the sport earlier this week.

Kobayashi spoke with TheF1Times, telling them,

“Obviously my seat there is gone, I was close to signing the contract for that season only, but with four new teams, and a couple of current ones with no confirmed drivers, there are options, but to the current teams, I am a ‘risk’, which isn’t very good for my morale really”

This would suggest Kobayashi and his management team have already had discussions with some of the key players in the paddock, not very successful ones. On Lotus specifically Kobayashi said,

“I do believe I’ll get a seat, if I had to choose a team, I’d choose Lotus. The name is enough really… I think for me, my options are the four new teams really.”

Whilst Kobayashi may be eyeing up a Lotus seat, he’ll likely find it a little difficult after Mike Gascoyne of Lotus F1 recently said that the team were focussed on experienced drivers only, specifically stating “We are not looking for pay drivers or new drivers”, of which Kobayashi is clearly the latter.

That said, his ex team Toyota are doing all they can to try and secure him, and his fellow Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima a race seat for 2010, since Nakajima has also lost out after being replaced by Williams test driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Kobayashi also recently revealed that if it all falls through in his F1 bid, he’ll be back to making sushi in his father’s restaurant. Our view: not the best way for a talented Formula One driver to spend the rest of his days!

For more information on the Formula 1 driver lineup for 2010, check out our Ultimate Guide.