F1: Sauber retaining Kobayashi and Pérez

Thursday, July 28, 2011, 09: 09 GMT

Sauber will retain its current drivers by 2012, with Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Pérez accepting new contracts with the team based in Switzerland.

The duo have been impressed by this year, and the team announced on the eve of the Grand Prize of Hungary which will continue with the title unchanged line-up in the coming year.

Team principal Peter Sauber said: "we are very satisfied with our drivers." Kamui has grown in its role very well this year. Although it is only his second formula one full season, he is already taking the responsibilities that are naturally the most experienced team driver.

"We're delighted with him a sporting and personal level." "We had a choice of working with him in 2012 and there was never any doubt that it would be to take it."

Perez already had a contract instead of 2012 after agreeing to a multi-year contract before signing, and Sauber said that the Mexican rate this year has shown that he had reason to have faith in the young.

"Sergio has achieved more than what one might expect from a newbie." Since the first race showed that it is capable of driving not only fast but always well. And after the accident at Monaco proved that it can handle difficult situations too.

"From the beginning we had already signed a contract with Sergio that went beyond 2011." "With a newbie who always carries a certain risk, of course, but has clearly borne fruit".

Perez said that you have confirmation that he stays on board for next year would be a boost to his approach to the rest of this campaign.

"Of course it is very good to have continuity and thus can prepare intensively with my race engineer for what will be my second season in formula one," he said.

"But for now I'm concentrating on finishing this season a high." "The summer holidays is very good for me since my crash in Monaco has been a busy time."

Decision Sauber retain both their drivers comes amid a growing likelihood that there will be no significant change in equipment this year. Ferrari is the only outfit to officially confirm the identity of both its drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, remaining on board.

However, Red Bull Racing, McLaren and Mercedes GP are almost certain to have works driver unchanged next year also.

Sauber confirmed also retain Esteban Gutierrez as its pilot.

"Stephen's career progresses in constant progress," he added Sauber. "After his dominant victory in GP3 was a logical step for him climb in GP2, where he has now taken his first victory."

"Then you will enter formula one when you are ready to do so." For us it has been a firm grip of the team from 2010 and we are going to continue to support him on his way to the formula 1 ".