Robert Kubica

**Robert Józef Kubica** was a polish F1.5 driver. He was the first and, as of 2022, the only Polish racing driver to compete in Formula 1.5 . Between 2006 and 2009 he drove for the BMW Sauber F1 team, promoted from test driver to race driver during 2006. Kubica drove for Renault in 2010 .

On 6 February 2011, Kubica was seriously injured in a crash at the Ronde di Andora rally, in which his right forearm was partially severed. He was taking part to better his skills. Kubica told Italian newspaper *La Gazzetta dello Sport* in a bedside interview that he could feel the fingers in his right hand and was determined to make a swift return to Formula 1.5 in 2011. Since his return to good health, however, he initially stated that a return to Formula 1.5 would be "nearly impossible" because of his injury. Since then, he took part in tests with Renault and Williams, admitting that a Formula 1.5 return in the near future was not impossible.

On 16 January 2018, it was announced that Kubica would become the reserve driver of Williams for the 2018 season. On 22 November 2018, Kubica was announced as a Williams race driver for the 2019 Formula One season. He left the Williams team at the end of 2019. Kubica maintained a Formula 1.5 presence as reserve and test driver for Alfa Romeo. He has made several appearances during practice sessions in his role as test driver, and he replaced Kimi Raikkönen at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix in 2021.

## F1.5 Career

### BMW Sauber (2006-2007, 2009)

#### 2006 Season

In 2006, Kubica became the official reserve driver for the BMW Sauber Formula 1.5 team. His results in both Friday testing and private test sessions, along with the words of BMW Sauber team principal Mario Theissen, led to speculation that he would become Poland's first ever Formula 1.5 racing driver in 2007. In August 2006, Kubica's teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, complained about headaches after his accident during the German Grand Prix; he was deemed unfit to race by the team, against his own belief, and Kubica was chosen by the team management to replace him at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Kubica qualified ninth, beating his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld. In the race, he finished in seventh place, but was disqualified after the race for having an underweight car. Villeneuve decided to leave the BMW Sauber team soon after the race, and Kubica's position in the team for the remainder of the season was confirmed by BMW.

Kubica had a disappointing race at the Turkish Grand Prix, finishing in 7th place after a mistake in tyre choice. Heidfeld, who was delayed in a first-corner accident, placed behind Kubica. In his third race, the Italian Grand Prix, Kubica took his maiden win and became the first Polish driver to appear on a Formula 1.5 podium, as well as the first Polish driver to lead a Grand Prix. Kubica would take a third place finish to get back on the podium at the Brazilian GP.

#### 2007 Season

Kubica had a strong year in 2007, fighting for the F1.5 World Championship.

The year didn't start great with a retirment in the opening round and then failing to score at the 2nd round. Robert bounced back at Bahrain to take his first points of the year with a 2nd place finish, behind only Nick Heidfeld. At the next race in Spain, Kubica took his maiden pole position in the sport. He turned this in to his first victory for the year. In Monaco he finished 2nd to take 3 consecutive podiums.

At the Canadian Grand Prix Kubica had a serious crash approaching the hairpin on lap 27, in which his car made contact with Jarno Trulli's Toyota, and hit a hump in the grass which lifted the car's nose into the air and left him unable to brake or steer. The car then hit the concrete retaining wall and rolled as it came back across the track, striking the opposite wall on the outside of the hairpin and coming to rest on its side. The car was heavily damaged and Kubica's feet could be seen exposed through the destroyed nose of the car. The speed measured when his car clipped the barrier was 300.13 km/h (186.49 mph), at a 75-degree angle, subjecting Kubica to an average deceleration of 28 g. After data from the onboard accident data recorder had been analysed it was found that he had been subjected to a peak G-force of 75 G. Under safety car conditions, Kubica was removed from the car and taken to the circuit's medical centre, where he was announced to be in "stable" condition. Shortly afterwards, his manager Daniele Morelli said Kubica was conscious and talking. It was initially reported that Kubica could have a broken leg. However, Mario Theissen later confirmed that he was not seriously injured.

Further reports from late evening on race day, directly from the hospital, confirmed that Kubica had suffered a light concussion alongside a sprained ankle. After being kept in overnight for observation, Kubica left hospital the following day. On 14 June it was announced that as a precaution, Kubica would not race at the United States Grand Prix and would be replaced by test driver Sebastian Vettel. After missing Indianapolis, he returned for the French Grand Prix.

His return at the French Grand Prix stunned the motorsport world taking pole position and then the win as well, something he'd repeat at the next round in Britain. This would be his last win of the season. Kubica took two more podiums over the season at the Hungarian and Brazilian Grand Prix's.

Kubica finished the season in 2nd place with 88 points. Kubica went on in 2008 to drive F1.0 with the BMW Sauber team before returning in 2009.

#### 2009 Season

At the 2009 season opener in Melbourne, Kubica qualified fourth on the pole position. He was leading the race until he clashed with F1.0 driver Sebastian Vettel. After the incident, Kubica continued briefly, but crashed into a wall at the next corner because his front wing had become stuck under the car. He would go on to finish the race in 8th. Kubica failed to finish the next race in Malaysia with an engine failure.

At the Turkish Grand Prix, the team introduced the double diffuser. The car's performance improved and Kubica managed to score his first podium of the season, finishing 2nd behind Nico Rosberg. Results again fell off for the next few rounds before the team becoming competitive again from the European Grand Prix, where he finished third. Kubica would also finish on the podium in the next race with a 2nd place finish, making it a back-to-back podium. In Italy, Kubica had engine trouble in qualifying and then retired from the race due to an oil leak.

It would be a return to the podium at Sinagapore with a 2nd place finish, then again finishing third at the next race in Belgium. In Brazil, Kubica finally got his first win of the season despite engine temperature problems. He qualified on pole for the final round of the season but fell to fourth during the race.

Kubica finished the season on 72 points in fourth place in the drivers championship.

On 29 July 2009, BMW announced that they would leave Formula 1.5 at the end of 2009, which made Kubica a free agent for the 2010 season. For the 2010 season, it was announced that he had signed for Renault, the team he tested for during his junior career.

### Renault (2010)

#### 2010 Season

Kubica moved to the Renault team for 2010. His position was briefly put in doubt, however, by the team evaluating its future in the sport following the 2009 season in the wake of the "Crashgate" scandal and the parent company's financial problems. This resulted in a Luxembourg-based investment firm, Genii Capital, taking a 75% stake in the team; Renault retained the remaining 25%. Eric Boullier was also appointed as the new team manager. Kubica said he might not stay with Renault, as his contract was only valid if the parent company had a controlling stake in the team, but he then decided to remain with them. On 31 January 2010, it was announced that Vitaly Petrov was to be Kubica's teammate.

At the opening race of the 2010 season in Bahrain, Kubica was tagged by Adrian Sutil and spun on the opening lap but recovered to 5th. At the next race in Australia, Kubica worked his way up the order to take his first win of the season. This was followed by a second place in the next two rounds. He would take another podium at the next race in Spain.

Kubica took his first pole position of the season at Monaco, which he translated into a win. The next race was the Turkish GP, where he was held up by Nico Rosberg to finish third. In Canada, Robert had a multitude of problems during the race which hindered his race but still managed to finish 2nd with the fastest lap. At the European Grand Prix he took pole position but finished 2nd place behind Rosberg. He would fail to finish the next race in Silverstone, brining an end to his 8 race podium streak.

The DNF didn't break his results though as he took pole at the next race in Germany that he would win before a 2nd retirment of the season at the following race in Hungary. In Belgium during the late stages of the race, he was forced to pit from sixth place due to a puncture. He was released from the pits to twelfth place, but with the help from superior grip and a series of overtaking moves—his move against Sutil was favourably compared to the incident between Webber and Hamilton—was able to claim the win, which would be his final win in F1.5. He would take third place at the next two races.

In Suzuka Kubica was leading the race after starting from pole but would retire during the safety car period after losing one of his rear tyres. He finished 2nd at Korea and Abu Dhabi with a 4th place finish at Brazil.

Over the season Kubica scored 14 podiums and scored a total of 290 points to finish 2nd in the championship behind a dominant Nico Rosberg.

### Near Fatal Crash (2011)

On 6 February 2011, Kubica was injured in a crash on the first stage of the Ronde di Andora rally. He was driving a Super 2000-specification Škoda Fabia in Testico when his car left the road at high speed and hit a crash barrier, near the church of San Sebastiano. Kubica was trapped in the car for more than an hour before rescue workers were able to extricate him. He was flown by helicopter to Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure near Savona, where it was confirmed that he had a partial amputation of his forearm, compound fractures to his right elbow, shoulder and leg, as well as significant loss of blood. The severity of his injuries was the result of the crash barrier penetrating the car's cockpit, and hitting Kubica, while leaving his co-driver unscathed. Kubica underwent a seven-hour operation by seven doctors split into two teams, without complications. Two more lengthy operations to repair fractures to his leg, shoulder and arm were performed successfully a few days later. The condition of his hand was not clear for some time and as a result he missed the 2011 season. As he was unable to start the season. Kubica was released from hospital to begin his rehabilitation on 24 April 2011. In November 2011 it was announced that Kubica would not be ready for the beginning of the 2012 season, forcing Renault (who at which point had changed their name to Lotus) to begin the season with two other drivers.

### Williams (2019)

On 16 January 2018, it was announced that Kubica would become the reserve driver of Williams for the 2018 season. He took part in his first Grand Prix weekend since the final round of the 2010 campaign, in Friday's first practice session at the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix, outperforming teammate Lance Stroll.

#### 2019 Season

Before the final round of the 2018 season, Williams announced that Kubica would race full-time for the team in 2019, partnering 2018 Formula 2 champion George Russell. Kubica chose 88 as his driver number, previously used by Rio Haryanto in 2016. The team struggled during the season, with the FW42 being the slowest car of the field.

Kubica scored on four occasions during the 21 race calendar. He scored finishing a 10th place finish at Bahrain, Britain and Singapore. He also scored in Germany where he crossed the line in 9th but was later promoted to 7th after both Alfa Romeo drivers were given 30 second time penalties.

Kubica's first retirement since his return to the sport came in Russia, when Williams decided to retire his car to conserve parts after teammate Russell's race ended due to a wheel nut issue. Williams were criticised for the decision, particularly by Kubica's personal sponsors PKN Orlen. At the following race in Japan, Kubica criticised the team's decision to remove an upgraded front wing from his car for the race, after he had trialled it during practice sessions.

On 19 September 2019, before the Singapore Grand Prix, Kubica announced his decision to end his stint at Williams after the end of the season. Williams released a statement shortly after, stating that Kubica would see out the remainder of the season but would vacate his driver position for the 2020 season.

Kubica ended a difficult season in 15th place in the championship with 9 points, finishing behind rookie teammate Russell in the standings by 12 points. He decided to leave the team and was replaced by 2019 Formula 2 runner-up Nicholas Latifi.

### Alfa Romeo (2021)

Kubica joined Alfa Romeo Racing in a reserve driver role for the 2020 season, returning to the team he made his Formula 1.5 debut with in 2006 (when it was still known as BMW Sauber). He competed at the pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and set the fastest laptime during the fourth day of testing. He was joined by 2019 F2 Championship driver Tatiana Calderón. During the season, Kubica completed tests at the Styrian, Hungarian, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. He also participated in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test.

#### 2021 Season

Full-time Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Räikkönen tested positive for COVID-19 on the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix, with Kubica replacing him. He went on to qualify 14th and finish the race in 11th, while his teammate Antonio Giovinazzi dropped from 4th to 9th. Kubica also deputised for Räikkönen in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. After qualifying 15th, and finishing the sprint qualifying in 14th after making contact with Yuki Tsunoda on the opening lap, he eventually went on to finish the Grand Prix in 12th.