Originally, Ferrari had an option with Robert Kubica for the Polish driver to join the Italian team in 2013. This was signed in the summer of 2010 and was renewable each year. From what I understand, Ferrari let the option lapse in July this year, at a time when Robert was still recovering from the injuries that he suffered in a rallying accident in February. He remained under contract with Lotus Renault GP until the end of this year. That deal comes to an end in December and while the team may feel a moral obligation to provide the Polish driver with a car in order to ascertain whether or not he is fit to return to racing, there is no commitment beyond that.
In any case, the signs are that either Kubica is not going to be ready to return in time for a Renault test this winter; or that he does not want to race for Lotus Renault GP and would prefer to try to get a job somewhere else. It is logical that Ferrari would retain at least some interest in him given how keen the team was to sign up previously, but there need to be tests, not just to ascertain whether he is still able to compete, but also to help him build up his physical strength, which is an essential part of the recovery process. This is not easy given that there are testing restrictions. Having said that if Kubica is still able to drive as he used to be able to drive, Ferrari is the perfect choice as the Italian team can have him running around at Mugello and Fiorano in a two-year old car every week if it chooses to do so.
All this is theoretical until we discover whether Robert is able to drive F1 cars as he used to, or not. There seem to be different stories coming out of his camp: some saying that he is fine and all is well; and others saying that there is much more recovery needed. The Renault situation is fast becoming irrelevant as unless Robert can show he is strong and ready (and that he wants to continue with the team) the logical thing to do is not to wait, but rather decide between the available talent. There are at least three drivers to choose from at the moment: Vitaly Petrov, Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean all being in the hunt. Grosjean seems to be the man on the up, while Senna needs a solid result after a series of disappointing showings. The team also has the option of looking at others, such as Adrian Sutil or Timo Glock, who are either under contract but have get-out clauses, or are simply available.
joeblogsf1 
Any chance of Raikkonen to Lotus? I’m sure there was a rumor a couple years back.
Hi there.
Sutil-Lux story can block such transfer. However, we all wish to see Roberto in scuderia.
greetingz
It’s very intriguing, the links between Kubica and Ferrari go back a while and clearly are deep, though both do a fairly good job of keeping this out of the public eye, helped no doubt by how secretive Kubica is. It would not surprise me at all if Kubica is already signed for 2013 and it certainly goes a long way to explaining his apathy regard Lotus Renault GP. All in all, so many little snippets of information can fit a hypothese of Kubica going to Ferrari that you do start to think there is something to it.
I did speculate elsewhere a while back that perhaps Kubica has aspirations beyond Renault/Lotus/whatever its called next year, but was given short shrift. It would be interesting to see him make a move for Ferrari, hopefully at the expense of F.Massa who is little better than a Cuban violinist in that team.
Maybe Kubica could do plenty of testing, then, for Ferrari and perhaps also do the odd race in the 458 Italia that Fisichella sometimes races in GTs? Would be a good way for Ferrari to gauge how quick he is and whether he has recovered. If he comes back halfway through next yr with Renault and has a few dud races because he is rusty, then that might ruin his long-term career prospects…personally I hope he can come back in a top car and deliver on the potential we saw at BMW.
“The Renault situation…. The team also has the option of looking at others, such as Adrian Sutil or Timo Glock, who are either under contract but have get-out clauses, or are simply available.”
Adrian Sutil at Renault (Lotus)???? Really? I give you a million to one odds on that one happening next year… A little common sense please. Was it the jet lag?
MD,
Depends who owns it, but logically if you (allegedly) stab one of the team owners in the neck, you may not have much of a chance of a drive next year…
The more I think about this situation the more I think Renault need to ask Kubica to confirm his intentions immediately, and if he cannot commit try to secure the services of someone with F1 experience this season and multiple seasons ahead of them. To my mind Glock fits the bill or perhaps D’Ambrosio should be given a chance. I would like Grosjean to have another opportunity but I think the Force India approach of Friday tests potentially to a full time drive the next year is the way to go.
I like Kubica but it was his decision to go rallying and if he is either not fit or committed to race for Renault then they have been more than fair and need to put their own interests first.
I still think that Renault should concentrate their efforts on Senna and Grosjean, since it´s getting more and more obvious that Petrov stands a slightly smaller chance of getting the seat, now that Boullier is so happy with Grosjean.
Regarding Kubica, from what we hear he isn´t ready to drive a F1 car anytime soon, what with the final hand operation he needs. If lucky, he could be fit for fight around christmas, but by then the seats are taken.
Its my sad opinion that Kubica’s days in F1 as a driver are over.
Surely if Kubica was going to come back for Lotus (Renault) the team would have announced something by now? All I keep seeing is the same half story about him driving road cars and Boullier feeling “morally obliged” to give him a test.
If he really is coming back could a deal have been done with Ferrari and kept on the hush till pre season 2012?
How about this for a punt…..
Massa stays at Fezza next year and see’s out his contract. Meanwhile, Bobby Boy runs around a test track in a 2yr old car and does the sportscar race to find out if he’s up to it. If he is, watch out Ferdy your mates coming to get you.
I hope Kubica recovers well enough to race again and he ends up at Ferrari midway through next season. As you said, they can provide an old Ferrari to pound around their test track endlessly until he’s ready. Unfortunately, Massa is on borrowed time in that seat.
Unfortunately I think Kubica’s chances of returning to the grid in 2012 are diminishing by the day – as Ben said, you would have thought there would be some announcement even if it was only to say there was an agreement in principle. The fact that there hasn’t been anything other than this statement of being “morally obliged” to give him a test raises real concern for me about his recovery prognosis – let’s not forget, the Armco nearly amputated his hand and they have had to do some substantial reconstructive surgery. I very much hope I am wrong on this occasion, but I must confess I do not expect to see Kubica on the grid next year on current form.
These were very serious injuries…he may need additional time to fully recover.
The Ferrari option sounds like a better option than Lotus/Renault. It would give him more time to get back in the swing without having to face a full GP season. Joe can tell us that even a full season’s traveling is a strain, much less competing in a race car.
Joe, you have been quite bullish about Webbber to Ferarri for sometime now.
How does this option on Kubica fit into your thinking when you seemed convinced that the Aussie would move?
Mael
I am not convinced of anything… I am speculating.
Seems to me that if Ferrari lets go of Robert, that means their alternate plan is already well formed.
I was impressed with Robert Wickens, tested for Lotus Renault GP yesterday, that kid seems a little experienced but he was fast! the team MUST take a good look at him too, if they are serious about getting results..
Joe, I hear your speculative opinion, Ferrari now know better than any other team how injuries can ruin racing drivers. My point is Massa was exceptional in 2007 & 2008, Clearly his injuries was the turning point resulting in his current form – I see a clear reason Ferrari perhaps didn’t want to renew their interest in Kubica…What ever has been said, Ferrari have pinned hopes on Massa to deliver in 2012 – hope he can rise above his problems and put a good show. I haven’t seen the Massa in his spirits since Brazil ’08
Joe, is there any news/speculation on Nick Heidfeld? Clearly he had enough ability to be not thrown out of a team after a few races!
Interesting. The level of discomfort of Eric B’s face was evident when asked about Kubica. At a later interview he changed his story somewhat, referring to moral obligations and so on… on which side, I wonder. Either way, it would be nice to have closure on this matter.
Nice analysis, cross fingers! Kubica, Alonso , Scuderia – it would be THE TEAM!
When Renault sacked Heidfeld, they stated it was because he had not lived up to expectations in terms of taking over leadership of the team from Kubica. Replacing Heidfeled with Senna rather suggested they were now treating Petrov as team leader. But it has to be said that Petrov has been a spectacular failure in that role (4 pts in 7 races, as compared to Heidfeld’s 34 pts from 11 races). The logical* thing to do if Kubica does not recover in time, and bearing in mind the importance of Vitaly’s roubles, would be to keep Petrov but return him to the No.2 slot, and bring in another “proven” driver as team leader. For well documented reasons, Sutil and Kimi appear to have burnt their bridges with Renault, and so Joe’s Glock rumour seems attractive. I also wonder whether Kovalienen’s (sp?) contract at t’other Lotus provides a similar get-out clause. I seem to remember he did pretty well at Renault in his rookie season and would probably have stayed their long term had Teflonso not desparately needed to get out of Woking and back to Enstone.
*though as Joe will no doubt point out, logic does not always have a place in the F1 paddock!
Or . . . if the Kimi to Williams rumours come to fruition, how about Rubens to Renault? Speculate, speculate . .
Ferrari makes sense, no risk for anybody involved apart from Massa.
I wonder if Kubica might be more interested in this option then to take a gamble with Lotus who lost a lot of key people and basically are the losers of this season 2nd half.
If the Lotus for whatever reason does not perform next year it will be blamed on Kubica’s condition.
There is a story floating around that one more team is interested in Kubica’s services.
If true could this be other Lotus aka Caterham?
massa has never been the same since his accident. i just hope the same doesnt happen to kubica
Lets be honest if Kubica’s injuries genuinely haven’t sufficiently recovered by now, the chances of him ever driving an F1 car competitively again are pretty slim.
There would’ve been massive nerve damage involved in a partial severing especially where it’s complicated with compound fractures of the rest of the arm and shoulder, it could be years before he gets complete function back if at all. There’s a big difference between being able to feel your fingers and being able to operate a paddle shift gearbox several thousand times a race. That’s completely ignoring his serious leg injuries.
Having nearly cut my thumb off with a circular saw 3 years ago, I can tell you that feeling does not return very quickly or equally to all areas. I would, however, love to see Kubica back.
The team that Kubica signed for in late 2009 is very different to the one today (as Eddie Jordan clumsily pointed out to Eric Boullier in the BBC coverage).
if robert is going to come bk why aint we seen him at any of the races i think hes hurt more han any one thinks if he aint bk by the start of next year i dont think well see him and why should we there are good up commin drivers out there
I race a F1 sidecar and have seen serious injurie affect many an up and coming star. Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact the Robert had a massive, massive smash. his hand was cut off bar some tissue.Never mind the other bones that he broke. We have a term in motobike racing. Mash Potato.
He will never be able to race an F1 car to the level of Lewis, Seb or Fernando.
I just cant see him back again. Its an awful shame but he’s a racer and he knew the risks. He’s lucky he’s still alive. Fact. Look at Marco, never mind the guys we lost at the TT this year. He is still alive and will still be able to race….just not in F1. If Scumi cannot do it to the same level because of a few years away and the fact he is over 40 he in hell is robert going to do it.
I hope he proves me wrong….
I feel for Robert. He had a great future ahead of him with or without Ferrari. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him in F1 next year.