Sauber to support Japan at Albert Park

Sauber has announced that it will carry a message of support to the Japanese people during the opening round of the new F1 season in Australia.

The team will race at Albert Park with on the cars of both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, with the message translating as 'May our prayers reach the people of Japan'.

While Kobayashi's home city Amagasaki escaped the worst of the earthquake that struck last week, the resulting tsunami has caused devastating damage in the north east of the country and left thousands of people dead.

"It is difficult to find the right words to express our emotions and feelings, but silence means we can't even begin imagine how to try," team boss Peter Sauber said. "We can hardly believe what we are seeing.

"Our thoughts are with the people in Japan. We hope they will have the necessary strength to overcome these circumstances of extreme adversity."