Robert Kubica has today informed Lotus Renault GP that he will not be ready for the start of the 2012 season, despite having started an intensive training programme. The Pole is still recovering from his really crash earlier this year and thereby gives the green light to LRGP to select its drivers for the 2012 campaign.
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I can imagine he is asking a bit much from his body at this time and it may or may not have had the consequence of losing control of the car ..but here he is fighting his way back into his chosen life .
I´m more than happy for him to see hope
must have took alot of effort to shake hands with his band arm then.
which suggests entering and exiting an open cockpit is not going to happen anytime soon and possibly never again.
how come hes not karting? is he driving one handed ? the gears are probably on the wheel so not much effort in the car but we cant see what his hands are doing when hes driving and maybe he doesnt want us to
snoop1050 wrote:must have took alot of effort to shake hands with his band arm then.
It's not normal, and it takes a lot of effort to shake hands are massive distances apart. It didn't seem to take massive amounts of effort to shake hands, and we know the guy can drive a rally car, that in itself means there must be significant strength there.
how come hes not karting? is he driving one handed ?
Probably for the same reason that got him into this mess – he likes rally driving!
I don't believe that Kubica has lost the ability to drive any race car fast. What he may well have lost, is the physical capacity to drive an F1 car.......two entirely different aspects.
Possibly he understands and accepts this and by going rallying, he's at least discovering if this arena is his best, or possibly only possibility to return to any degree of professional racing?
Whatever is his outcome, I applaud his tenacity........
Axis of Oversteer is saying that there were spike strips on the course causing a double front puncture for one driver, and another cars wiring harness was cut the night before an event. I sure hope Robert isn't going to be targeted for any of that crap.
Interview with Robert appeared on the website omnicorse.it. It appears a lot of very important information about the last 19 months by Robert and many interesting views on F1 and rally. Here is an article with it (the text is supplemented by yet another question):
"Robert warmly shook my hand. His behavior was very natural, and the grip was not strong, but he was energetic. Agreed to talk for 5 minutes. Talked for half an hour. Excluding filters - for everything from racing to the F1.
Kubica is well aware of his condition, but is fully determined to regain full power in his hands. You can see it in his eyes. It's in him will never change.
Question: Let's start with Formula 1 and the open fight for the championship this season.
Robert Kubica: Worldwide strongly interested in how to change the balance of power on the grid, but there is one driver from the start of the season makes a difference. Fernando in the first race showed his class, and he did so in an uncompetitive car. He is the favorite. In F1 everything changes quick, but he probably always scored in addition to Spa, where he was the victim of an accident.
Q: Who will be his biggest rival?
RK: Fernando is out of this world, there is no rival for him. It seems that the fate of the title is already a foregone conclusion. At 80% it gets Alonso.
Q: Lotus reaches the current results, to which you hoped drive in this team. How do you explain the growth of their peace?
RK: We started the 2010 season with a car from the previous year, we achieved encouraging results in spite of the low budget, but missed the car as amended, in the second half of the season. team is clearly growing.
Q: What is their strength?
RK: Lotus is pure racing team. Looking at today's F1, the top teams are difficult to manage, with too much staff. The Lotus human passion for racing. This is a big advantage. Just to add to the three or four people that will make single-seater, and we have a beautiful effect.
Q: This year's race has already won seven drivers, but was not among them Lotus representative. Why?
RK: It's really weird and interesting. They have a strong connection to the drivers - If you fail to qualify for Raikkonen or Grosjean above live up to his level, they should win.
Q: Something is missing those two drivers?
RK: No, I think not. Do not insult Maldonado or Williams, but if they were able to win, it just lacks Lotus luck.
Q: This success was crowned 70th birthday of Frank Williams
RK: There are such special days in F1. There are things that are more difficult to understand, if you are outside the paddocks. There may be such a race with a bit of luck, but this one can not be happy race championship. I always preferred to bring some big points in the race. Analysing this season have come to the conclusion that there are many drivers who qualify high, then do not bring points to the finish. It's weird.
Q: Maybe it's Pirelli tires, which wear is unpredictable?
RK: No, Pirelli tires are more sensitive to what I know. If going in the right operating window, you can get excellent performance that makes a difference. It's one of the reasons for which Lotus has the form of fluctuations in a single weekend. I remember that Renault were quick on long trips, but not in qualifying. Through the work of the settings we were able to balance it. F1 is much more complex than it seems. It is not easy to understand even for those who sit in it for a long time.
Q: During the race, drivers often combined with management complaining about different things. Could it worsen their times?
RK: I always tried to talk as little as possible with the engineer. During the ride I wanted to have as few things to distract me. This was the only required communication. Other drivers have a different approach. For example, Jacques Villeneuve had to be at the moment, "excited" by the engineer, or "falling asleep".
Q: Overtaking is the most exciting part of the F1 ...
RK: In F1 overtaking is very difficult. In recent years, several such manoeuvres watched. I'm talking about the real overtakes ...
Q: Are you opposed to DRS?
RK: It's like chasing the sprinters and one of them had the wind in your face and the other a strong wind in the back by some fan. Does that make sense? It is true that people like to overtake, but where are these manoeuvres with locked wheels? Now everyone is waiting for a moment to be able to press a button and overtake. DRS blocks attacks before the point of activation, because then the DRS and so lose the position. As a result, there is only to overtake on the straights. I think it's a contradiction. I'd rather see less maneuvers, but more true overtakes.
Q: Do you think Romain Grosjean earned the exclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix?
RK: I do not know, not my role to judge. I am no longer part of this world. I can say that Grosjean wasted many opportunities this year, and he is a wise guy, I know him well. Perhaps it was under too much responsibility. Each of us made some mistakes in his career, but Romain left too many points on the track. I think the more peaceful approach would allow him to gain more points.
Q: F1 is a closed chapter for you, or ...?
RK: Of course I'd rather be there, but that's life and you have to deal with it. I still need to overcome a number of limitations to be able to sit comfortably in the car on the track and I do not just mean an F1 car.
Q: Is it time to help them overcome?
RK: I do not know, it takes a bit of luck, and not everything depends on me. This may sound bad, but hope dies last. Faith's die last. I still believe, but I'm not in the clouds, more down-to-earth. It's not that I will feel no one if i do not go back to F1. It's not here, but for me.
Q: It is said that F1 is waiting for you, can you help with the development of the turbo engine for 2014?
RK: I do not know, I do not know. It's a special time in my life - to be able to work as efficiently as possible to use the right hand. During those 19 months, I realized that the time is useless to me. I learned to perceive time as something different.
Q: What about the doctor Ceccarellim? Why do you split up?
RK: Yeah came out, it happens even in the best marriages. I worked with him for years. He had other commitments and went other ways. That's it.
Q: friendship is over?
RK: I do not visit his gym every day, we do not see too often. In such cases, the friendship does not count. With Fernando we are friends, but on the track we had to fight for results regardless.
Q: abandon F1 for rallying?
RK: People who know me, know that in 95% of cases, do things that make sense. This point can not comes out right away, but it is. This is one of those cases. I think it's time for me to come back after 19 months of what I've done before. Driving Rally can be useful in improving my fitness. If I want to start next year in any championship - whether racing or racing, I must now proceed losses. From the first time you drove a car after an accident on the track a year has passed. In the past 19 months I went multiple operations. All those who were in this situation know that it was not easy. Each operation is a stress, survival, because it is an intervention in your body. I was already weak, and put in practice more effort than anyone could have imagined.
Q: How many were there? did you count them?
RK: A lot: I think that as much as F1 racing season. In front of me a long way and a lot of work to do. Now for me the most important is the move away from what I had in the last 19 months and return to what I've done for the last 20 years. In short - I want to go back to driving.
Q: In recent tests Fiesta WRC for the Ford you shocked all that you were faster than Latvalla. You are invited to help in the development of the car on asphalt.
RK: Yes, it's true. In rallying experience is more important than race. At the track, you need two or three tests to find out if you'll be strong. Just drive 200 km. The rally is much more variable, ranging from playing places you do not know. For me it would be easier to go back to race around the track, because that's what I did for so many years.
Q: Why do you ride rallys?
RK: Because that is my passion, they are much easier logistically. Taking into account the specific of a rally, less repetition are even better now for my hand than racing. They are also less engaged and comprehensive.
Q: That's true, but in rallying mistakes can cost more. you didn't avoid them now.
RK: I ran into the tire in the only place where it was possible and I ran to the ditch. It was a total amateur mistake! I had to replace the bumper. Did more damage when went of the route, but it was not anything serious. in the test pass we went too fast.
Q: Does the fact that Ford has invited you to the testing requirements did not raise the bar too high?
RK: We teamed up with Ford in 2011, even before the accident and I had to help them with the development of the car on asphalt, plans were also higher to take part in bigger events with them. It happened as had happened and I had to put those plans on hold. In May, they called me again and invited to test Fiesta WRC . At first I refused, because I wanted to be 100% sure that I'm ready. But then I agreed and flew to France. Driving Rally car on the track was not pleasant, but I was surprised by his strength.
Q: What do you think of S2000 cars?
RK: They are a very powerful machine. They are very low-slung and so arranged to extract the maximum grip from the tires. Well, one is to get 100% of the available grip. They are therefore unpredictable. If you leave off the asphalt you lose control. They are very difficult, even for those who know them very well.
Q: Did you consider using S2000 cars in the last races?
RK: There were some licence problems, and more. S2000 to compare the GP2 cars - you need them to perform tests. I would have also done testing them, because serious accidents, including mine are not always caused by driver error but unpredictability of cars. It would be folly not to compete in these tests, but they still do not always help, because I have tested Skoda many times before the Ronde di Andorra, but I was not ready to run it. S2000 are very demanding but they are bastards.
Q: What is your recipe?
RK: In the local asphalt rallys i would ban Super2000 from 2014. You should drive group N cars they are strong, secure, one-third of that cost. With the same budget could take part in more competitions, and take some tests. The rally is a tendency to spend money only on take-offs and too often ignoring tests. However, the test car and get to know his reaction. Who has the ambition to do well in a home rally, is obliged to borrow S2000. Let's change the rules: if in group N, then allow it to ride the spectacular one in front of family and friends, and to obtain a good result.
However, in just a moment of inattention S2000 car lost power by corrupting the whole a good impression.
My feelings are very simple: a group N is slower but safer in cornering. Since these cars are heavier, would inhibit earlier. One could say that my idea is crazy, but it is the best group N category.
Q: But there are only a few approved car: Mitsubishi and Subaru
RK: Yes, it's true, but I'm sure that if you would open the market, other manufacturers would be interested in developing their cars in accordance with the rules of the group N.
I say this as a fan of not taking into account the political aspects - it's none of my business.
Q: This is not a good year for racing, what do you think should be done to improve safety?
RK: For example, medical care is poor. Ideas are many and probably others have better than mine. The key is also in cars. When I was driving I felt WRC 10 times safer than the S2000. It is impossible to get out of the heavy oppression.
Q: So, power is a false problem?
RK: It's obvious. With a weaker machine driver is forced to brake later, and risks. Subaru enters into turns 3 km / h slower than the S2000.
Q: Some people think that the calendar is too much racing events.
RK: It's true - in Tuscany, near my house I can every week take part in another event. Italian calendar is the most busy in Europe. Competing in them a lot of drivers and a lot of teams. The economic crisis has not reduced races. The organizers, however, have less need to save resources and also the security ...
Last edited by zonk on 22 Sep 2012, 14:49, edited 1 time in total.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli's director of motorsport in, he sees the role of Robert Kubica F1 tire tester of the Italian company, but ... - He probably would have preferred to test the racing tires! - Hembery laughs. - For a long time I have not talked to Robert. We have several projects where he could possibly play a role. Maybe something happens.
This is for us a great candidate for a tester. If you will be physically fit, for a year would go with us, and would be in a good position to return to F1 in 2014. [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o<
On the other hand ...he could buy a obsolete car (maybe he even has already one of his Reanults and BMW Saubers in his garage and just find a few guys who could run it for him.There are many competent people around who can maintain and
run these machines..Toyota would be perfectly prepared to do this .
