Kazuki Nakajima

Kazuki Nakajima is the son of Satoru Nakajima, Japan's first full-time Formula One driver, who was appointed team-mate to Lotus's Ayrton Senna in 1987 and enjoyed a five-year F1 career before retiring in 1991 and moving into team management.

Not surprisingly, Kazuki quickly found himself involved in the world of motor sport. He took part in his first kart race at the age of 12 and, three years later, was Suzuka Formula ICA karting champion. As he graduated through the championships, his performance in the All Japan Formula A kart championship attracted the attentions of the Toyota scouts, and he was invited to join their development programme for young drivers.

The talent spotters had done their homework – Kazuki won the Formula Toyota Championship in his first season. Formula Toyota is intended as a stepping stone from karting to Formula 3, and the rising star made the progression to the All Japan Formula 3 Championship the following year.

Initially, Formula 3 proved tough for the rookie. But he still finished fifth in the Championship and won two races, indicating a clear ability to progress and develop with every new challenge he encountered. Kajuki regarded the Championship as unfinished business and he contested the series again in 2005, finishing as runner-up. He also broadened his experience by taking part in the Japanese GT Championship.

During this time, Satoru was on hand to provide wisdom and advice but Nakajima Jnr also had to find his own way. In 2006, at the age of 21, he moved to Europe to take part in the Formula 3 Euroseries – learning the circuits which are so much part of the European F1 season.

Kazuki showed signs of things to come on his debut at Hockenheim, with the first of four podium finishes and, just a few weeks later, he won his first race of the season at the Lausitzring.

In 2007, his career continued under the stewardship of the Toyota Development Programme as a competitor in the GP2 Series, the acknowledged feeder to Formula One. However, he also found himself rapidly promoted to the role of test and Friday driver for Williams following an impressive and detailed assessment programme in November 2006.

In a busy 2007, Kazuki scored five consecutive podiums in GP2 and was named Rookie of the Year. Meantime, in Formula One, he made his debut as Friday driver at the Australian Grand Prix, the first of five GP appearances. Behind the scenes, be clocked up 7,000kms of test driving in the development of the FW29.

His year was crowned with a full Formula One debut at the last race of the season in Brazil, where he replaced the recently retired Alex Wurz. He claimed a top 10 finish, improved on this grid position by nine places and recorded the fifth-fastest lap of the day.