FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[racechick]

He's definately out for the start of the season. And he's extended his contract with Renault until the end of 2012

[Hammer278]

Renault reacts as Kubica rift grows

A row is brewing between Renault and Robert Kubica's manager Daniele Morelli over comments attributed to the driver earlier this week.

Renault announced on Wednesday that Kubica would miss the start of the new season, even carrying quotes from Kubica himself saying that "I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season".

However, Morelli says that Renault has twisted the words and that Kubica is still hoping to be fit for the start of next year, while also denying the team's claims that he will be contracted to the team throughout 2012.

"I don't understand why Renault has changed Robert's words," Morelli told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's not true he won't be ready for 2012. He stated he doesn't have certainty that he will be in shape for the first tests in February. We count on and hope to be ready, but in any case the delay will be a few months.

"Renault will go its way with regards to the drivers, while we will look for alternative solutions. His contract does not extend into 2012. It ends at the end of December, so from January 1 will we be free to go in whatever direction. If Robert comes back that's because he will be competitive like before and attractive for the top teams."

Renault boss Eric Boullier reacted with surprise, insisting Morelli approved the wording of the media statement. "He approved the communication so everything was fine," he said. "He approved it, I can show you the email. And now he is upset with I don't know what. He's creating stories from nothing.

Morelli did admit that Kubica's recovery had been taking longer than expected, but that the last month has seen a "nice acceleration" of his progress. "Plans have gone out of the window. He is a bit overweight, but his right leg is almost the same as the left one muscle-wise.

"His elbow's external brace will be removed on Tuesday, so from that point on he will be free from that scrap metal. The hand's sensitivity is OK. The only limit is strength as the forearm's muscles have been immobilised for a long time so there's a lot of work to do. But it's a matter of time, by the end of January the strength should be adequate."

________________________________________



Shareholders...why u no believe me....

[racechick]

So I guess what they're saying is we still dont know. I cant see this guy being race fit at the beginning of the season.
And why the claims and counter claims about whether he's signed with Renault or not

[minnie]

I can't see him being fit for the start of the season either, unfortunately. If he's not back in full training yet there's a good chance his physical fitness won't be up to it never mind the injury to his hand & arm.

Not sure about the changing story - any chance he's looking at negotiations with any other teams beyond 2012?

[racechick]

Big article in autosport about Kubica. Here are the main points of it:-

Kubica is not communicating with Renault, this has led to fears all is not well. However he has been communicating with Ferrari...interesting!

Two issues have slowed recovery
1)Lack of muscle building to right arm because the elbow has had to be locked in place for longer than they thought
2) Slower than expected nerve growth in right hand

On the first point. The brace was left on on the advice of surgeons for a better longterm recovery. Its due to come off next week. While it was on Robert could not excercise the muscles and theres wastage that will take months to bulid up.

On the second point( which was more of a concern)They discovered a piece of chipped bone which was preventing the arm rotating. On removing it, there has been an increase inspeed of nerve growth.

The author of t he article(Mark Hughes) is of the opinion that Kubica at the time of his crash was the best F1 driver on the grid, and he says Alonso concurs with this. I personally cant agree. Potential to be the best , yes. But he hadnt had the opportunity to prove he's the best. We cant even decide who's the best from the top three who have been giventhe chance to prove themselves. I do think he'd be up there with the top three. I remember when Hamilton first came to F1 he said his biggest competitor in the years to come would Kubica, and Hamilton was well aware of the talents of Vettel and Alonso.

[LewEngBridewell]

That fact that he was a title contender in 2008 with Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, both in superior cars, shows that he's got it. Or at least he had it.

[andrew]

Amazingly for Autosport, this Huges chap has his head screwed on correctly. Kubica was one of the if not the best out there. Anyone who can worry the top teams in the mid-field Renault is exceptionally good.

Where's the full report? Any chance of posting a link rather than the edited highlights?

[bud]

Big article in autosport about Kubica. Here are the main points of it:-

Kubica is not communicating with Renault, this has led to fears all is not well. However he has been communicating with Ferrari...interesting!

Two issues have slowed recovery
1)Lack of muscle building to right arm because the elbow has had to be locked in place for longer than they thought
2) Slower than expected nerve growth in right hand

On the first point. The brace was left on on the advice of surgeons for a better longterm recovery. Its due to come off next week. While it was on Robert could not excercise the muscles and theres wastage that will take months to bulid up.

On the second point( which was more of a concern)They discovered a piece of chipped bone which was preventing the arm rotating. On removing it, there has been an increase inspeed of nerve growth.

The author of t he article(Mark Hughes) is of the opinion that Kubica at the time of his crash was the best F1 driver on the grid, and he says Alonso concurs with this. I personally cant agree. Potential to be the best , yes. But he hadnt had the opportunity to prove he's the best. We cant even decide who's the best from the top three who have been giventhe chance to prove themselves. I do think he'd be up there with the top three. I remember when Hamilton first came to F1 he said his biggest competitor in the years to come would Kubica, and Hamilton was well aware of the talents of Vettel and Alonso.

I guess if people are calling you the best when you've never really had the machinery is telling in itself. I mean winning with the best machinery is that really proving you're the best driver? F1 drivers title has always been at the mercy of the car. SO there in lies why have a drivers title when its not a fair race...Like Kimi recently said You could be driving the best of your career, giving 110 percent but without the car you'll be midfield.

[racechick]

Amazingly for Autosport, this Huges chap has his head screwed on correctly. Kubica was one of the if not the best out there. Anyone who can worry the top teams in the mid-field Renault is exceptionally good.

Where's the full report? Any chance of posting a link rather than the edited highlights?

I've tried before but I dont think it will work. I cant copy and paste because its in pdf format. I subscribe to autosport and so I also get the online version. For obvious reasons they make it hard to copy.I'll try again. Mark Hughes does an article every week. Its one of my favourite parts of the mag. I mostly, though not always agree with Hughes; but whether I do or not the articles are always informative, well written and his technical knowledge is very good.

[andrew]

You should be able to copy and paste from a pdf document unless Autosport have somehow disabled that function. The other option is a screen dump and post the article as an image.

[racechick]

cant copy it, just tried. Yes I could copy as an image and post , but a lot of faffing about and it might have copywrite issues. Sorry ( im sure there's a way round if yoy're clever with ICT)

[bud]

Email me the PDF ill sort it out.

[racechick]

Apparantly its not pdf I now find out, but a website in code. This is the link but I dont think you'll be able to look inside the magazine

http://digitalmagazine.autosport.com/

http://digitaledition.autosport.com/iss ... d486a2823/
And the last one is the link to the current magazine open at the correct page. Let me know what happens hen you try to link.

Edit. You can subscribe to autosport online only version and its much cheaper than getting the magazine . Might be interesting to people abroad. I might do that next year, loads cheaper.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

Kubica has split with Dr. Ceccarelli, which I take to mean one of two things. Either Robert's rehabilitation is complete (not likely) or he is dissatisfied with its progress. This can't be a good sign.