It’s time to make it count

Son of former F1 driver Satoru Nakajima, Kazuki made his debut for Williams F1 in the 2007 season finale in Brazil. He managed a respectable 10th and also set the fifth fastest lap time for the race, but during this, he also unfortunately hit two of his mechanics in the pits overshadowing the performance on track. Thankfully, he was still chosen to be the Williams driver for 2008!

Nakajima, at just 23, is another of the upcoming young drivers who have a bright future in F1. He has done his rounds of the lower ranks and proved his worth along the way. Since 2006, he has been associated with Williams as a test driver and later, replaced the retired Alex Wurz for the last race of 2007.

No matter what happens in 2008, Nakajima has time to settle down. It also helps that he’s got a famous name and that he’s Japanese at a time when there are three Japanese teams in Formula 1! Despite that, he is driving for a British team and that itself is food for thought.

In a season that will see no less than six rookies take the track, Kazuki’s job is cut out to stand out, make an impression, try to score points and ensure his place for 2009. He also has a better car than most rookies and will be expected to do better.

Nakajima continues to hold great promise after two seasons in F1, but there is still something he needs to add to his repertoire – outright aggression. Something his peers have in abundance. He has come across as a safe driver who is happy to complete races. While the Williams has undoubtedly improved its reliability and technical prowess, he needs to be able to cash in on this. 2009 promises many surprises thanks to the changes in regulations. Can Kazuki make them count in his favour?