Formula One News » Brazil Return Possible For Kubica? Posted on 14/06/2011
Robert Kubica’s manager, Daniel Morelli has said that there is a chance that the Polish driver could return to racing at the last grand prix of the season in Brazil.
Kubica has been recovering from a rally accident which he was involved in back in February which left the Lotus Renault GP driver with life threatening injuries. Kubica is currently spending three days a week in Genoa undergoing rehabilitation as he works to restore full functionality to his right hand, which was partially severed in the crash. The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Kubica will undergo a final surgery on his arm in Genoa today.
Morelli said that the leg which was fractured is no longer an issue, but that it was the hand which would dictate the Polish driver’s comeback.
“Recovery is progressing positively,” Morelli told Gazzetta dello Sport. “The right leg is fine: if that was the problem, then Robert would practically be ready. No, that’s not our worry.”
“The Italian GP is held in September, so it’s in just three months’ time, but we can think about the final race of the season.”
“In any case, when Robert gets in the simulator, he’ll immediately understand whether he’s able to come back, how and when, without the need of a stop-watch.”
Meanwhile, Polish website Fakt.pl also published the first photos of Kubica after his accident earlier this week, which showed the Pole walking with a crutch and with a forearm guard and brace on his injured hand.
However, the Lotus Renault GP team said it will hold fire on making any moves on its 2012 driver line-up until Kubica has given the outfit a decision later this summer on whether he believes he will be fit enough to race. The team is obviously aware that it may need to find a replacement for Kubica if he does not return in 2012. But team principal Eric Boullier says that the outfit will sit back and wait for Kubica to make the first move before contemplating who will be slotted in alongside Vitaly Petrov, who already has a firm contract for next year.
“Robert is the key to this,” Autosport quote Boullier as saying. “We obviously are 100% committed behind Robert, and I have offered to put in place all the rehabilitation on the racing side for him to be comfortable before making the decision.”
“We are now having discussions with his management to see how we can do it. There is not always the same concern for everybody, but I would like to wait to see Robert’s decision to see if he is back or not, and then work out if we go to a different plan or not.”
“I have been told he will be starting his full rehabilitation in August, which is late. But we have to make a decision around then.”
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2 Comments
It would seem unfair to Heidfeld if this happened. He has been pushing really hard to gain points for himself and the team and whilst I’m glad to see Kubica is recovering well, bringing him back for just one race would seems pretty pointless and would also be a kick in the teeth of a man who has done a pretty good job at filling for him. Let Kubica have a full season off to recover well for 2012 and keep him away from rally cars in the interim!
If Kubica will be in Renault next season, it’s vital to put him behind the wheel ASAP (even if it’ll be last race). Kubica has to know where the team is technically at the moment to help them develop car for next year. It’s sad for Nick of course but he is not going to fight for the podium this year. In fact I think it’s his last chance to drive a car in which he can win something.