No free time on a race weekend for Kubica

A Formula One driver's job is largely subjected to a strict schedule, which rarely allows time for any leisure activities. This also applies to Robert Kubica. The BMW Sauber F1 Team driver describes how he spends the time between arriving at the airport at the Grand Prix venue and the race.

With the exception of the Monaco Grand Prix, a race weekend starts on the Friday morning with the first free practice session. However, Robert Kubica arrives two days earlier so as to be able to prepare properly. "I generally arrive on Wednesday evening, since work starts on Thursday morning with the technical meetings and the media time", says the Pole. "If it is an overseas race, I arrive at the latest on the Tuesday evening, in order to get used to the time change."

After the free practices and qualifying, very little private time is before the race: PR events, meetings and other official events determine Robert's daily routine: "Media time, a Paddock Club appearance, an autograph session, the pre-race debriefing, the drivers' parade. Then the pit lane eventually opens," says the 23-year-old.

Only rarely do the drivers have the opportunity to relax in the city. Robert gives an example of the tight schedule during a Grand Prix weekend: "When we were flying to Australia for my first Grand Prix in 2006, my manager told me that he had been there several times but had never seen a kangaroo. I quickly realised that he was right - there is simply no time for off-track activities."