News Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica injured in rally crash.

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9388940.stm

Not the start to the 2011 season we were hoping for.

N.

 

[GoForPDI]

Not at all With Kubica out of action, even if he does make it to Bahrain, the team will be losing alot of potentially valuable feedback from Kubica. I'm not sure if Petrov is up to that task yet..

Renault have four test and reserve drivers, two of which seem like the best choices: Senna and Grosjean.

I'd personally go for Grosjean, he proved to be a fantastic driver in GT1 last year and did far better than Piquet Jr at Renault, wheras Senna was completely trounced by Christian Klien in the HRT.

 

[orb]

Photos and video showing damage of the car

Photos of the car:

A video showing damage of the car after the crash (Italian commentary):

Robert Kubica car crash at Andora Rally 2/6/11

​

 

[marooder86]

That was really bad news I've heard today. I hope this won't be the end of his career in F1. Also there must be some misunderstanding on BBC site, cause relative to what our's media are saying he didn't hit the church but some kind of bareer that protect cars from falling out of the road.

 

[GoForPDI]

Yeah, he hit some armco. This kind of accident does happen alot in Rallying.

Not a career ending shunt, don't worry. Colin McRae almost killed himself at Rally Corsica in 2000 and came back for the very next round in San Remo!

 

[cmunoz80]

Who do you think is going to replace Robert for 2011? Who is their test driver anyway? Or are they going to try scout for a new driver? Even though his arms will be fully recovered, having a competitive is another. Although they are professional drivers, there is sometimes a tendency for them to hold back after a horrible crash has happened. I hope though that he can be fully healthy and competitive in time for this season. It’s sad to lose drivers on horrible accidents like this.

 

[GoForPDI]

Renault have four test drivers; Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna are the only two with any experience.

However Renault are looking to run Nick Heidfeld, who used to be Kubica's team mate at BMW Sauber.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89366

I have seen some pictures of Kubica's Skoda. He slid wide, hit the armco and dislodged that area, driving straight into the end of the next section, which pierced through the footwell and out the rear boot He is lucky to be alive!

 

[Lucy]

It seems a testament to the safety of F1 to me that the same man can walk away from a crash like this;

I hope he recovers quickly from his injuries and returns to the sport. Racing drivers seem to be among the more resilient members of the species (remember what happened to Mr. Massa in 2009, for instance).

 

[Notebook]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9399985.stm

Nick Heidfeld will drive for Renault for the foreseeable future after it was announced that the German will replace the injured Robert Kubica.

N.

 

[GoForPDI]

Very sensible move by Renault. People seem to forget that Heidfield was pretty darn quick at Sauber with Kubica.