Robert Kubica has returned to the cockpit for the first time since his rallying accident more than a year ago. The Polish driver took the wheel of a Skoda Fabia for a test on Thursday in Genoa. This is a first step to returning to competition but Kubica is reported to still have problems with the functioning of his hand. That may preclude him from racing in Formula 1 in the future but that does not mean he cannot compete in other forms of racing, as Sandro Nannini, for example, did back in the 1990s after injuring his arm in a helicopter accident.
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joeblogsf1 
Lets wish Bobby all the best. I’m sure he will return to mtorsport and do well again. Its just a matter of finding the right formula, then the other drivers had best watch out.
Bobby K for World Rally Champion 2015?
Good Luck, Robert. We all wish you the very very best.
Dates are wrong, rally happened before Jaime Alguersuari spoke with BBC radio. According to people that raced that day, it was a private rally on 29 of February. So to prove Alguersuari wrong after BBC comments, people that raced in that private 100km rally post photos on Facebook. It shows that Jaime Alguersuari don’t have contact with Kubica and have no clue on his condition.
I think holding a steeringwheel is different from drinking out of a glass. Different movement, different muscles etc. So Alguersuari could be telling the truth. Why would he lie? He already got his BBC-job. No need to show off.
Because he is an idiot?
The man released his own album, is an accomplish F1 driver and now commentating for the BBC, and only 21yo. I am pretty sure he is more accomplished and less idiotic than you are.
Michael, While I think its great to see Kubica out there and racing something, I am fully with what Verstappen wrote on how much that means for his potential in F1.
However, I think that we can be sure to see Kubica being a front-runner in racing, just we will have to wait and see what car it will be in.
From the pictures posted, its clear that his hand is far from being fine or perfect (cue – hiding your hand is not something you would do if it was OK).
Dear all
Thankyou Joe- what a source of sheer joy. One can but hope and pray that, by some miracle, he not only recovers sufficiently to race f1, but, also to win a world championship.
Gaudeamus.
MarkR
It”s good to hear some positive news coming from the direction of Kubica. Before his accident, he was probably the most highly rated driver amongst his peers. If he ever gets back on the F1 grid, it will be a greater achievement than any wins or championships he may have got without the injuries.
F1 is a complex beast though and questions will remain about his dexterity, not only for steering the car but to operate the various switches on the steering wheel. I would hope teams could tailor the interface to his needs though.
The amount of strength he regains in his arm will also be a determining factor.
If F1 is too much to ask of his physical capabilities, then he could do worse than emulate Nannini further by going to the DTM. He managed 21 wins in DTM/ITC between 93 and 96, a period when these were some of the most well developed racing cars outside of F1.
Joe, What is the feeling inside F1 about Kubica’s prospects for a return? Are people still watching his progress or does the paddock move on too quickly to look back? There have been many rumours about Ferrari running him in an older car, is there anything to this?
We would all love to see him back but I doubt he would return to be a shadow of his former self. A well prepared for test in a Ferrari is the best environment I can think of for him to find this out.
Good luck for Kubica I hope to see him again in F1.
According to someone in this thread
http://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9469&start=825
He was acting as a co-driver.
That’s great news!!! Happy for Kubica that he’s been able to get this far. Let’s hope for the best.
Lets not forget Alex Zanardi as well – just goes to show you what determination can do.
3 days ago, Jaime Alguersuari says that he can’t pick up a glass of water.
Today, we hear he has tested a rally car. Why are the details so murky? I think things are worse than feared.
>>…as Sandro Nannini, for example, did back in the 1990s…<<
And Didier Pironi (to powerboats) in the '80s. Major deja vu here, right down to the talk about post-recovery driving for Ferrari.
Is there any concrete evidence of the state of his rehabilitation at the moment?I truly hope that he is able to make a return to F1 eventually,but I fear it’s unlikely.Such a loss to the sport,as he was definitely a potential world champion.
Also,many congrats on your appointment at Caterham.It’s encouraging to see Mr F taking advantage of individuals with so much experience and knowledge in the world of racing.What role will you be undertaking in the company?
here you have photos http://www.f1fanclub.pl/2012/03/robert-za-kierownica-tak-znowu-skoda.html of that day
It doesn’t fill me with confidence that he kept his right hand firmly hidden in most of those photos. In the one that you could see a portion of it, he really didn’t look as though he was holding it in a natural pose. I know he still has probably a fair way to go with physiotherapy, and so on, but I am less encouraged that he’ll be back in F1 every time news on his progress appears.
Don’t forget Alex Zanardi raced again after loosing his lower legs. Very inspiring. Wishing all the best to RK, F1 is poorer without him in it.
I doubt that he will recover sufficient neurological activity in that hand and arm to be as he was before the accident, sad as that may be.
Possibly over-doing the rehab to try and get back into racing will retard the recovery if he isn’t careful, and if he misses another year then there will be others in the market who are sharper and younger.
That’s life.
Just because he is currently having hand problems doesn’t mean we should be so quick to seemingly dismiss the possibility of returning to F1 and wish him well in the minor leagues. Considering that up until a few months ago he was still having surgeries I am sure his arm/hand is months away from being essentially fully healed (+ growing even better as some real time passes). The body is good at rewiring itself over time to repair any gaps in sensory functions.
Yeah but it’s not just about the injuries. Imagine if you took one of the other top drivers, Button, Alonso, Vettel etc, and just made them sit in bed without driving a car for 2 years – they’d still lose their edge, and probably never be competitive again. I can’t see how he’ll ever come back to be a top F1 driver.
He’s not sitting in bed. He’s been rehabbing non-stop. Besides, his injured arm and leg, he’s probably stronger than he’s ever been. Also, it’s been just one year and it seems he’ll, at the least, be testing lower-formula racecars. At his or Alonso’s age, they could come back off two years without much incident. MS was gone for, what, three full years and is nearly 45. He nearly tied Rosberg in points this year.
It is?????? Then why are there so many paraplegics?
Erm… I hate to be a cynic (I think Kubica was/is one of the most complete drivers to race in F1)…
But I haven’t seen any footage or pictures of him sat in a car – either in the drivers or in the passengers seat?
Joe, any information on why Kubica has split with his long time acquaintance Dr.Riccardo Cicarelli who was taking care of him eve after his accident?
I always wait for Joe’s news as he is one source who has always been right! I sincerely hope Kubica gets better and comes back to F1. BMW Sauber dropped the ball when he was fighting for the title! They should have focused on that years car rather than just focus on next year which anyways they got it wrong!
Jaime Alguersuari making such comments is plain sad. I can expect a journalist sitting before his computer and making things up but a former F1 driver Alguersuari should verify things before he makes comments!
Also Ant Davidson who at one stage was on par with Button never had that chance in F1 but Alguersuari had that opportunity thanks to Red Bull & yet he whines about how he was dropped from the team. If not for Red Bull Alguersuari would be racing in GP2 or F3!
Actually Alguesuari didn’t whine about it, quite the contrary. He took a very rude dismissal with a admirable amount of grace.
On a different tangent, what does it have to do with is comments (be them right or wrong) on Kubica’s helath?
I certainly wish Kubica the very best–I’m a big fan. That said, rally cars? Really? Being American, I don’t have the same exposure to rallying as many of the readers here, so I don’t quite get it. Strikes me as sheer insanity.
Although that might be the point.
But don’t get me started on the spectators.
just found some information to all of you,that tomorrow italian website autosprint gonna give some details about that Bobbys Skoda test which apparently took place on 7th february,so can’t wait to read that!
about algersuari he’s got no idea whats going on with kubica at the moment so please don’t put any attention to that cos he’s an idiot with lack of information !
at the moment only the closest people around Robert know whats going on!
i bet you all then its all better then its look like!theres something in the air!
I know everyone is pulling for Robert to make a come back and win again becoming a fairy tale miracle, but honestly, when a driver has a major accident where many parts of their body has been majorly traumatized, how could they possibly come back?
Robert’s accident was just as bad as Martin Donnelly’s and Martin never made his F1 comeback. Johnny Herbert was lucky to make it with both his injured feet. But I’m afraid to say that I don’t think Robert will make his F1 comeback, instead probably opting for more suitable rally drives.
Kubica was karting on sunday march 11th
http://www.mykart.it/Articolo.aspx?id=30
Don’t forget RK is a Pole and we’re not an ordinary breed.
We are fighters and i can assure you that he’ll be back sooner then you think. Knowing his popularity in Italy he probably becomes Alonso’s team mate.
Keep fighting Robert!
http://www.mykart.it/Articolo.aspx?id=30
… š
I also think that he won`t be back to F1, albeit I stupidly wait for such an information. Well, heart is not a rational advisor.
I think Robert will go to other formulas, not sure which would fit his physicality thou. I am not an expert. Hopefully fit enough for WRC.
I`ll give rise to some rumours. Bobby was seen gokarting in Italy a couple of days ago. Skip the video to 2:12 where are his recent photos. I`m sure that you will find further information from media soon. Anyway, hope he will come back soon with the edge.
come on people,don’t you understand,look at the facts,he drives a car,he drives a go kart (which is not a simple thing and on top of that he nearly broke a lap record)so why theres so much dubters???hes going to back and you know it!!its just matter of time now!would like to see your faces when he’s gonna climb to f1 car soon!!!!haha wait and see!
And the conscious effort made to hide his right hand from view in every shot from both events is very telling.
Unfortunately all is not well and he’s simply trying to stem the tide of negative publicity that’s building due to his previous policy of keeping everything private.
BEST SPORTING STORY IF KUBICA COMNES BACK TO WIN F1 WORLD TITLE. better than ISTANBUL liverpool comeback. WOULD BE MAGIC :)) cmon Robert, the WORLD is with YOU!!