- 07 Oct 09, 19:02#161136From autosport.com:
Kubica joins Renault for 2010
By Matt Beer Wednesday, October 7th 2009, 12:05 GMT
Robert Kubica will replace the Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso as Renault's lead driver in 2010, the French team has announced.
The 24-year-old Polish driver moves to Renault having spent his whole Formula 1 career so far at BMW Sauber.
Kubica had been strongly linked to Renault in recent weeks, and team boss Bob Bell said the team had been eyeing him for some time.
"Ever since Robert made his grand prix debut in 2006, he has been on our radar as one of the most naturally talented drivers of his generation, and he has delivered on that promise so it's great to have secured him in one of our cars next season," said Bell.
"Renault has high ambitions and hopes for the future of the team and we feel that Robert can play a big role in fulfilling them."
Kubica made his F1 testing debut with Renault four years ago, when he was given a test as a reward for winning the 2005 World Series by Renault title. But he was not offered a deal by the team and instead went to BMW to start his F1 racing career.
"I am very happy I will be joining Renault in the 2010 season," said Kubica. "I feel I have a special connection with this team because in 2005 I won the World Series by Renault. This gave me the chance to test with the team in Barcelona, which led to my debut in Formula 1.
"I share with Renault a strong winning mentality and feel comfortable with their friendly and open attitude. I'm highly motivated and optimistic that together we can be at the front of the grid next year and hopefully fighting for the world title."
Kubica finished on the podium in only his third grand prix, and went on to take his sole victory to date in Canada in 2008 - a result that helped him mount a surprise world championship challenge.
The Pole expected to be a title contender from the outset in 2009, but the BMW Sauber F1.09 proved uncompetitive and the manufacturer announced in the summer that it will pull out of F1 at the end of the year. Although the team has been bought by the Qadbak group, its future remains uncertain as it does not currently have a 2010 entry.
Toyota had also been keen to sign Kubica for 2010, but team boss John Howett admitted in Japan that it appeared Renault had won the race for his services.
From autosport.com:
BMW thanks Kubica for his efforts
By Matt Beer Wednesday, October 7th 2009, 12:37 GMT
BMW Sauber has paid tribute to Robert Kubica's efforts over the past three seasons after the Pole was announced as a Renault driver for 2010.
Kubica's team switch had been widely predicted in recent weeks, with Renault immediately regarded as the favourite to sign him once BMW announced that it was pulling out of the sport.
BMW team boss Mario Theissen said Kubica's contribution to the company's history would always be valued. He took the works BMW squad's first Formula 1 pole position and victory in 2008, when he also fought for the world championship with the team.
"Robert played an important role for us - and certainly we did the same for him," said Theissen.
"He joined us in 2006 as a test driver with no Formula 1 experience, and then we promoted him to be one of our team's drivers during that season.
"He never let us down and, with our first pole position in 2008 in Bahrain and first victory the same year in Canada, he set milestones in the history of our team. We are grateful for his strong and constant performances and wish him all the best for his future."
Kubica was promoted from BMW's third driver role to a race seat in place of Jacques Villeneuve in the middle of the 2006 season, and took third for the team at Monza in only his third race.
There were tensions between Kubica and the team last year when the Pole became frustrated that BMW was diverting its resources towards 2009 preparations rather than putting everything into a 2008 title bid. But he said he would always be indebted to BMW for giving him his F1 break.
"I'm very thankful to those responsible in the BMW Sauber F1 Team for giving me the chance to get a Formula 1 cockpit," said Kubica.
"I think I justified the belief in me by delivering good results. In 2008 I managed to get the first pole position in Bahrain and the first win in Canada. Both will remain unforgettable moments for me.
"For 2010 I will have a new challenge. I wish everybody I worked with at the BMW Sauber F1 Team all the best for the future. I'm sure in the future our paths will cross in Formula 1."
The BMW Sauber team's future is currently unclear as although it has been bought by investment group Qadbak, it lost its guaranteed place on the 2010 F1 grid when the parent company withdrew - and that slot then went to the revived Lotus team. Its hopes now depend on another team dropping out or the FIA succeeding in expanding the entry to 28 cars.
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988,
1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998,
1999, 2007McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
- By darwin dali
