GPWizard F1 Forum
F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: John S on February 06, 2011, 01:10:17 PM
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Hope Robert's OK. Team manager's nightmare, your best hurt in non F1 activity.
Robert Kubica has been taken to hospital in Italy after a high-speed rally crash. The Renault Formula 1 driver was contesting the Ronde di Andora rally in a Skoda Fabia when he had a heavy accident on the opening stage.
Kubica was transported to Pietra Ligure hospital by helicopter and is currently undergoing medical checks. Team sources confirmed that Kubica remained conscious throughout.
The Renault team said it would release further information once more was known about Kubica's condition. His co-driver Jakub Gerber was not injured.
Kubica has regularly contested rallies alongside his F1 career in recent years. This weekend's event in Italy was his first appearance in a Super 2000 car.
Should Kubica not be fit for the start of the 2011 season, his Renault team has no shortage of reserve drivers.
By Jonathan Noble and Matt Beer, Autosport.com, Today
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The BBC's report doesn't make good reading. I hope that he gets well soon as he is a fantastic driver and one of my favourites on the grid.
BBC report:
Formula 1 star Robert Kubica has suffered fractures to his left arm and left leg after a high-speed rally crash in Italy, BBC Sport understands.
The 26-year-old Pole crashed into a church wall and was air-lifted to a hospital near Genoa.
His British-based Renault team said the driver was conscious, with a statement due later after further medical checks.
It looks unlikely Kubica will be ready for the new Formula 1 season, which starts on 13 March in Bahrain.
His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, but following surgery in 2003 after a serious road accident as a passenger that left him with titanium bolts in his arm, there will be doubts about his ability to continue in the sport.
A Renault statement read: "Robert Kubica suffered an accident at high speed this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.
"The driver was airlifted to Pietra Ligure Hospital where he is currently undergoing medical checks. His co-driver [Jakub Gerber] is fine."
They added that another statement would be issued as soon as more information was known about their driver's condition.
Reports suggested that Kubica was 4.6km from the start of the Ronde di Andora rally when his Skoda Fabia crashed on Sunday.
The former driver for the BMW Sauber team regularly competes in rallies and was driving a week after a successful testing session in the new Renault car in Valencia , ahead of the season's opening grand prix in Bahrain.
Kubica was due to lead Renault alongside Russian Vitaly Petrov of Russia, who has a long-term contract to race for the team after signing for the 2011 and 2012 season over the winter.
The reserve drivers for 2011 include Bruno Senna - who raced for Hispania last season - and Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who drove for Renault as a replacement for Nelson Piquet Jr in 2009.
It is likely that either of these drivers will be called up for the second pre-season test which starts in Jerez on Thursday.
Kubica was an impressive performer last season to finish in eighth position in the drivers' table, securing second at Melbourne and a third in Monaco and Belgium.
The Krakow-born star also suffered a bad crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 and was forced to miss one race. He returned to the same track the following year to claim his first Formula 1 victory.
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Other reports suggest he has crushed his right hand and broken his right leg, doesn't sound good at all.
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Someone has already put a video of the car after the crash on youtube, here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78smQo6ZRk8&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78smQo6ZRk8&feature=player_embedded)
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However, team principal Eric Boullier made it clear last week that Bruno Senna would be his number one choice to slot into a race seat - because he is the one with the most contemporary F1 experience.
"I will give it to the one who is ready," Boullier said when asked which of his reserves was most likely to be used first. "Bruno is the most ready driver."
if true this will leave Renault with two unproven drivers.I can't see
one not being replaced with a top notch driver sooner rather than
later
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I hope Kubica can make a full and fast recovery. He has the potential for greatness.
We old greybreads fondly remember the days when F1 drivers also drove sports cars, saloon cars and even NASCAR. This is a stark reminder why those days are gone.
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Autosport have updated their article about him, seems he has multiple fractures to his right side:
Robert Kubica looks set to miss the start of the new Formula 1 season after suffering multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand in a crash on the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday.
The Polish driver was airlifted to hospital on Sunday morning following a high-speed crash that took place 4.6 kilometres into the opening stage of the event, on a stage near the village of Testico in Italy.
Kubica is understood to have swiped a wall and hit a crash barrier in a Super 2000 Skoda Fabia on the first stage of the rally - which he was competing in shortly after completing the first week of pre-season F1 testing with Renault at Valencia.
According to sources at the event, Kubica was trapped in the car for more than one hour until specialist extraction equipment could get to the scene of the crash.
There are unconfirmed reports that Kubica's injuries were caused by the end of a crash barrier penetrating the car - which would explain why his injuries were on his right hand side rather than by the door.
After being transferred to the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure, Kubica underwent surgery on Sunday afternoon for the injuries he suffered - with doctors believed to be focusing their efforts on his injured hand.
According to a statement issued by Kubica's Renault team, he has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. The hospital is expected to issue a statement about Kubica's condition later on Sunday, while his manager Daniel Morelli is scheduled to hold a press conference.
Kubica's injuries look almost certain to prevent him starting the season for Renault, with the first race of the campaign due to take place in Bahrain on March 14.
Renault will likely call on reserve driver Bruno Senna to fill in in the short term, but the team could opt for a more experienced driver if Kubica faces a more lengthy lay-off.
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Do you think that if it is a longer term injury (ie, half a season or something) we might see Heidfeld drafted in as opposed to the still unknown quantity that is Senna? I agree with Dare that it does not seem likely Renault would race without one experienced driver.
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I hear Tonio Luizzi is looking for a drive, ;) but the two Germans Nick and Nico really spring to mind if Eric needs someone good in the car.
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I wonder if Senna would happen to outperform Petrov
drastically who would Renault replace,Petrov or Senna?
Would make a good script for one of those sappy old
50's car sagas ;)
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I wonder if Senna would happen to outperform Petrov
drastically who would Renault replace,Petrov or Senna?
Neither, since Petrov's finances mean dropping him is not an option.
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I think it's likely too early to say if his injuries are serious enough to miss a good part of the season, but by the sound of how many there are (hand, arm and leg), they could be quite serious. I hope not, but if they are looking for a replacement for more than a couple of races, then like WF, I would go with someone like Heidfeld instead of Senna.
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I bet Robert will be kicking himself very firmly, for playing around in rallying, if the new front exhaust Renault proves to be the real class of the field this year.
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Don't sound good.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06022011/23/updae-robert-kubica-condition.html (http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06022011/23/updae-robert-kubica-condition.html)
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If Robert can't go, I doubt we will ever know how good the Renault is. None of the replacements mentioned drive at Robert's level, with the possible exception of Heidfield. And there goes my prediction for WDC, I think. What a shame for Kubica.
Lonny
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Yikes, in this Autosport article they mentioned that they ruled out amputating his right hand, but are not sure how recoverable it will be. This could truly be a career ending accident if it is that serious.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89312 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89312)
The Globe and Mail is now suggesting that although Kubica may not lose his right hand, he may in fact lose the use of it.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/renaults-kubica-may-lose-his-hand/article1896345/ (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/renaults-kubica-may-lose-his-hand/article1896345/)
:( :(
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Along with everyone else I wish Kubica well and a speedy recovery. :good:
But!!
What were the team doing allowing him to compete in Rallying prior to or during a season? :crazy: The two disciplines are Poles apart (pun intended) and surely his contract will now change.
I will not speculate on the replacement as there are too many variables but you can be sure the Renault phone is running red hot.
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It seems to be getting worse and worse. The latest speculation is that he may miss the entire 2011 season. His hand was apparently partially severed. I read in another story (not this link) that another thing that complicated the surgery was a severe road accident he had a few years ago that left his arm already damaged with screws and pins holding it together.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89315 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89315)
I really hope he makes a complete recovery...he certainly wasn't done in F1. :(
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Holy crap! :o Get well soon.
And Renault? QUICK....CALL KIMI AND BACK UP THE ARMOURED CAR!
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Another story on ESPN with a video interview of the surgeon at the end.
http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/40129.html (http://en.espnf1.com/renault/motorsport/story/40129.html)
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Things are sounding a lot worse now than they were earlier. I can only again say that I hope he can recover as much as possible after this :(
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Haven't be on the forum much today and am reading these reports all at once. It seems like reading events that have happen over a few days. This is terrible news, I really hope Robert make a full and speedy recovery, although these reports don't make good reading at all. :(
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I really hate this. >:( I was hoping the new car would give Kubica a breakthrough year. Without him, I think Renault is a midfield team at best. Nothing against Petrov, who has done a good job for the team, but he is certainly not at Kubica's level. Senna is simply an unknown quantity. Unless they go get someone I think they are done.
Lonny
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Fisichella,Heidfeld,Hulk,even JV
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None of whom are at Kubica's level as far as I am concerned.
Lonny
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None of whom are at Kubica's level as far as I am concerned.
Lonny
Your right,Kubica is the cream of the crop,more reason he should have
put all his efforts in F1.I'm afraid this may be one of those if only
stories.I hope I'm proven wrong but from one who's had a shattered ankle
their never the same even after they heal
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Gutted to hear about this yesterday, I hope what we hear is not true and he makes a full recovery & his hand is ok, it would be a real tragedy if he was unable to race again in F1 as we would lose a potential champion. :(
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It does sound like Kubica is out for the 2011 season. I just hope he can make a full recovery and return for 2012. Like many of you, I think he has championship potential.
If Robert is gone for the season, I, too, look for Renault to try to pick up an experienced driver A.S.A.P. Fisi, Quick Nick & The Hulk would seem to be the front runners. Fisi was with Renault for several season. If the French were still in control there, they might also look at Marc Gene.
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The Doctors who did the surgery on his hand are top level specialists in hand repair. Early signs are encouraging, he can apparently move his fingers. They will turn their attention to his other injuries now, while watching the progress of his hand. They are also concerned because he lost a lot of blood while they were freeing him from the car. I am holding good thoughts.
Lonny