Kubica closes on F1 return

thunderbolt · 25 Oct 2011, 20:54 (Ref:2976776)

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/174368/...f1_return.html

Quote:

Robert Kubica is close to being in a position where he could make a return to F1 machinery according to the surgeon who operated on his injured hand.

The Pole has been left on the sidelines since his rallying accident back in February, which has forced him to miss the 2011 season and left to question marks about his future career.

While reports last week had suggested that Kubica may need a 'few months' more to recover – which would have put his chances of competing in 2012 at even greater risk – Dr Igor Rossello has now said that the Renault driver is close to being in a position where he can sample an F1 machine and see how competitive he is likely to be in future.

Marbot · 25 Oct 2011, 21:57 (Ref:2976809)

I can't help but think that making it back to F1 as a full time driver, is perhaps just a little bit more than they were hoping for. But all the best to him in his attempt to do so.

mac · 25 Oct 2011, 23:19 (Ref:2976840)

I really hope he does make it back... He's been a tremendous loss to F1 this year.

Spritle · 26 Oct 2011, 00:21 (Ref:2976857)

I miss him and hope he comes back strong but sadly I think he will be a shell of his former self and will eventually walk away or lose his drive.

I hope he proves me wrong!

mac · 26 Oct 2011, 00:29 (Ref:2976858)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spritle

I miss him and hope he comes back strong but sadly I think he will be a shell of his former self and will eventually walk away or lose his drive.

That doesn't sound like Robert Kubica... I can only see him coming back if he is convinced that he can be at full strength. If not, he strikes me as the sort of guy that would just walk away...

henners88 · 26 Oct 2011, 06:50 (Ref:2976904)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spritle

I miss him and hope he comes back strong but sadly I think he will be a shell of his former self and will eventually walk away or lose his drive.

I hope he proves me wrong!

Yeah I hope it doesn't turn into another Wendlinger situation where he returns and just doesn't have the pace. Good luck to him and I hope he comes back strong, but his injuries were horrific and I will be very surprised if he's as good as he was.

Sodemo · 26 Oct 2011, 07:50 (Ref:2976922)

A bit like Herbert. He was never the same after his Brands Hatch crash.

henners88 · 26 Oct 2011, 07:57 (Ref:2976923)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodemo

A bit like Herbert. He was never the same after his Brands Hatch crash.

Yeah he shattered both his legs and struggled with the pedals after that. Didn't Brundle also have a nasty crash in the early 80's that affected his career? I seem to remember him talking about some rehabilitation he had gone through and never felt the same.

**Born Racer** · 26 Oct 2011, 08:07 (Ref:2976928)

Go Robert. Massively hope this works.

sizzle · 26 Oct 2011, 10:25 (Ref:2977007)

Wishful thinking!

**Bononi** · 26 Oct 2011, 12:59 (Ref:2977107)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Go Robert. Massively hope this works.

Same here.

Down F0rce · 26 Oct 2011, 13:09 (Ref:2977118)

Quote:

Originally Posted by henners88

Yeah he shattered both his legs and struggled with the pedals after that. Didn't Brundle also have a nasty crash in the early 80's that affected his career? I seem to remember him talking about some rehabilitation he had gone through and never felt the same.

Brundle had a very had crashes in Monaco and Detroit, but it was Eddie Irvine's tyre hitting his head in Brazil '94 that had the most profound effect on him. He said on the Beeb coverage that he was never really the same after that.

henners88 · 26 Oct 2011, 13:27 (Ref:2977137)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down F0rce

Brundle had a very had crashes in Monaco and Detroit, but it was Eddie Irvine's tyre hitting his head in Brazil '94 that had the most profound effect on him. He said on the Beeb coverage that he was never really the same after that.

He also broke both his ankles in a practice session for the Dallas GP in 1984, which had an effect on him when dealing with heavy braking. I remember him talking about the Irvine crash too.

chillibowl · 26 Oct 2011, 14:08 (Ref:2977154)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Go Robert. Massively hope this works.

totally. i also hope they are willing to give him time in the car.

it would be interesting to know how they go from a few runs to test his comfort level to slowly building him back up to full race pace.

obviously we must respect his privacy, but there is a fascinating aspect here about the rehabilitation process that i would love to know more about.

spider · 26 Oct 2011, 14:40 (Ref:2977165)

I do get the feeling that he may be able to make a comeback at some point, but to me it looks like they're pushing it by making it 2012. 2013 may be a far far better bet, but it looks like everyone's hurrying him...

**Born Racer** · 26 Oct 2011, 14:45 (Ref:2977168)

The problem is how much testing will he get, given the current regulations? Is he going to get some kind of dispensation from the F.I.A.?

Marbot · 26 Oct 2011, 14:55 (Ref:2977171)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

The problem is how much testing will he get, given the current regulations? Is he going to get some kind of dispensation from the F.I.A.?

He can go in the simulator as often as he wants. Maybe do a bit of PR work. Drive one of Renault's 3 or 4 year old F1 cars until the wheels fall off.

JeremySmith · 26 Oct 2011, 23:01 (Ref:2977428)

As much as I would love to see Robert back on the grid.......

**bella** · 27 Oct 2011, 10:10 (Ref:2977580)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marbot

He can go in the simulator as often as he wants. Maybe do a bit of PR work. Drive one of Renault's 3 or 4 year old F1 cars until the wheels fall off.

presumably he would do what they did for maria de villota earlier this year - a couple of days at paul ricard and last year's demo car.

Marbot · 27 Oct 2011, 10:13 (Ref:2977584)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bella

presumably he would do what they did for maria de villota earlier this year - a couple of days at paul ricard and last year's demo car.

Something like that.

**Born Racer** · 1 Nov 2011, 08:19 (Ref:2980001)

It needs to happen soon if he's going to start the 2012 season. Maybe it already has, away from the spotlight. That wouldn't be a bad thing for Robert.

VIVA GT · 1 Nov 2011, 08:30 (Ref:2980006)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

It needs to happen soon if he's going to start the 2012 season. Maybe it already has, away from the spotlight. That wouldn't be a bad thing for Robert.

I think that 'away from the spotlight' is essential for all concerned. I'd love to see him back in F1, but only if he's the same as he was before his nasty accident. If not, I'd prefer to remember him as he was.
If any testing he does is under the spotlight it will not only put even more pressure on him to perform (maybe too soon, before he's settled back in and comfortable), but his initial performance (good or bad) could lead to totally innacurate speculation about his abilities (good or bad).

Mr Pink · 1 Nov 2011, 11:40 (Ref:2980082)

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

I think that 'away from the spotlight' is essential for all concerned. I'd love to see him back in F1, but only if he's the same as he was before his nasty accident. If not, I'd prefer to remember him as he was.
If any testing he does is under the spotlight it will not only put even more pressure on him to perform (maybe too soon, before he's settled back in and comfortable), but his initial performance (good or bad) could lead to totally innacurate speculation about his abilities (good or bad).

Robert strikes me as a proper race car driver though, the kind who would care more about getting back in the car than what people remember him as.

Wims · 1 Nov 2011, 12:36 (Ref:2980109)

I broke my wrist way back in the mid 90s and after it had healed I couldnt play guitar anymore without it hurting like hell. It still hurts whenever I play the guitar. I basically had to give up guitar. From what I understand Kubica almost severed his arm, a much, much more serious injury than my simple wrist breakage. Kubica did of course have access to way better doctors than what I had, but the severity of his injury was far greater than mine. I would be surprised if he's the same after recovering from such an injury, and that it would not affect his pace or indeed his ability to drive a racecar altogether.

Marbot · 1 Nov 2011, 13:21 (Ref:2980132)

As you say. It's one thing to get your mobility back, but it's a completely different thing to get it back to what it was before. Many drivers have competed successfully with very bad leg injuries. Or indeed, with no use of their legs at all! But far fewer have competed successfully with severe arm injuries. It's very important that you have a balanced 'feel' in both hands. You may have enough of that to drive a road car.......

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