Kubica thanks Polish and Italian fans

Once again, Monza proved to be a good race venue for Robert Kubica. He repeated the success he celebrated there in 2006, securing his second Italian GP podium. Over the course of the weekend, Robert also demonstrated his special relationship with Italy by dint of his helmet design...

As a teenager, Robert, now a 23-year old, lived in Italy for many years, and it was at the "Autodromo Nazionale di Monza", that he finished third in only his third Formula One race. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Robert feels comfortable in the home of the Tifosi. Thanks to his flawless race performance and a perfect one-stop strategy, he now has 64 points to his 2008 tally and holds third position in the Drivers' Championship, just 14 points behind McLaren's World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

While Robert Kubica likes Monza, the Italian motor racing enthusiasts also are particularly fond of the Pole. "This is a special place for me," he says. "Every year, a lot of Polish fans come here to support me. But there are also Italian fans cheering for me. So I just want to thank them for their support while also thanking all the people who have supported me in my career in Italy: all the teams and everybody who I met on my way to Formula One. That's why we divided the helmet design into two pieces for Monza." One side of Robert's helmet was painted in the colours of the Italian national flag while the other remained in the Polish colours, red and white.

Having rounded off Formula One's European season with another success, Robert hasn't long to wait for the next highlight on the Grand Prix calendar. On 28th September, Singapore will be the venue of the first night race in the history of the pinnacle of motor racing.