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Renault hunts for driver as Kubica continues slow recovery
ESPNF1 Staff
February 7, 2011
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Robert Kubica sustained severe arm injuries after a high-speed crash during the Rally Ronde di Andora © Getty Images
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- Profiles:
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- Kimi Räikkönen
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Renault has succumbed to the inevitable and admitted it is now tracking down a replacement for Robert Kubica, who suffered severe arm injuries when he crashed at the Rally Ronde di Andora last weekend.
Kubica underwent seven hours of surgery on Sunday and on Monday morning was being brought out of a sedated sleep to talk to doctors and his family. The extent of the injuries to his right hand and arm are still unknown, but it now appears certain he will be out for the start of the season and possibly the whole year.
"The hand is warm and this means the operation went well," surgeon Mario Igor Rossello told reporters. "We need at least six days to check if the circulation of the blood in the limb responds as it should."
In a press release the team confirmed that Kubica can now moving his fingers, but said "it will be several days before it is known if the operation has been 100% successful". It added that he may have to undergo surgery again to treat his shoulder and elbow fractures in a few days time.
Meanwhile, Renault boss Eric Boullier, who said on Sunday it was too early to start thinking about a replacement, has admitted the team is now considering its options.
"Of course we have already started to think and work on a contingency plan," he told BBC Sport. "He is definitely out for a couple of months. I expect the recovery will be quicker than one year, but today it is a little bit too early to know how long it will take to recover."
Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean are the team's most experienced reserve drivers, but the promotion to a race driver would be a big ask for either. Ex-Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld is an obvious candidate and even 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen has been tipped by some journalists. Raikkonen was in contact with the team last year, but later revealed, "I never seriously considered driving for Renault" and has since committed to another season in the World Rally Championship.
Whoever Renault appoints is likely to share the rest of pre-season testing with Vitaly Petrov, giving them just six days of experience in the new Renault R31 before the first race of the season in Bahrain.
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Comments: 31
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ESPN Staff
Good luck with a full recovery, Robert. We're gonna miss you on the grid, and that's coming from a Red Bull fan! It will probably be Heidfeld to get the seat. Raikkonen would be great, since he is the closest match to Kubica's skill out of all the available drivers. But he is already committed to another year with the WRC. It would be fantastic to see the Senna name return to a JPS liveried Lotus-Renault, and if the recovery process were only a few months, it would probably be the case. But since it's an entire year, it will be an experienced driver to take the seat, and that driver will be Nick Heidfeld.
Posted byI would have to go against what seems to be the grain here. I'm really sorry that this happened to Robert, all the best to him and his family. Senna would be the perfect replacement, it would be a shame if he isn't given the opportunity. Formula one has almost always been more about the car than the driver. The times that Bruno was outperformed are questionable. I don't believe Vettel would have done any better in a HRT. And ofcourse, as stated by some, the man himself said it "If you think i'm fast, wait till you see my nephew Bruno".
Posted byKIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%KIMI RAIKKONEN 1000%
Posted byBring back Juan-Pablo Montoya! Montoya vs Hamilton vs Vettel would be something worth watching. Plus we need another good driver to show up Michael Schumacher even more :-)
Posted byMy vote is definitely for Nick Heidfeld. He deserves the chance and is an experienced, reliable, solid driver who can continue to teach Petrov. But seriously, some of these suggestions? Villeneuve?? Might as well get Luca Badoer!
Posted byCome on people, it's got to be Nick Heidfeld! He is the most consistent, experienced driver and that is exactly what the team needs to develop the car and extract its seemingly huge potential. Nico Hulkenberg is a good driver but he isn't experienced enough to lead a big team and help the engineers develop the car. Plus he is signed with Force India; should Kubica come back earlier than expected, Hulkenberg is out of a team, again. And this speculation about Kimi is ridiculous, he is committed to the WRC with his own team, and there is no way he would take a 'fill in' position with the possibility of Kubica coming back early, let alone Renault spending all Petrov's money in paying him!
Posted byWish Robert a speedy recovery. Just so sad to see such a potential world champion in the making out of the grid this season. Best replacement at the moment would be to bring back Kimi and have 6 World Champs competing against each other which would be fantastic for the sport. Another serious candidate to consider would definitely be Nico Hulkenberg, massive talent..no doubt abt that!
Posted byThe Senna name back in a Lotus again sound great.
Posted byHulkenberg deserves the chance of a good car, but as said "6 World Champs"
Posted byBest wishes for Robert Kubica's speedy recovery!! His Montreal crash looked worse, but it just shows how safe F1 is! As for replacement drivers, Kimi Raikonen is an obvious #1 but it is not to be, since he has signed for another Rally season...Heidfeld is next best with his years of experience....Senna, well he had a chance but was always beaten by his team mate, I fear the wish for him to become part of the Senna legend is gone? Villeneve too many years since he drove F1, so would be a poor choice....Maybe an outside chance for Montoya instead?