Kubica already thinking about return

Renault driver Robert Kubica has, after he was severely injured during a rally accident in Italy last Sunday, for the first time spoken to the press. The 26-year old Pole who is recovering from his injuries in the Santa Corona di Pietra Ligure hospital was very upbeat about his chances to return to Formula One this season. In an interview with the Italian Gazetta dello Sport he told he was able feel the fingers of his right hand, and has said he would be back, stronger than before.
He will again undergo surgery again today to stabilize the fractures in his right foot, upper arm and shoulder. "I can feel my fingers, they work, my arm too. But I must wait until the operation, then I will know" said Kubica. When he arrived at the hospital on Sunday he was in bad condition and had lost a lot of blood, and surgeons performed a seven-hour long operation to save his partly severed arm and hand. Doctors even feared for his life and advised his manager Daniele Morelli to call his parents in ...

Renault driver Robert Kubica has, after he was severely injured during a rally accident in Italy last Sunday, for the first time spoken to the press. The 26-year old Pole who is recovering from his injuries in the Santa Corona di Pietra Ligure hospital was very upbeat about his chances to return to Formula One this season. In an interview with the Italian Gazetta dello Sport he told he was able feel the fingers of his right hand, and has said he would be back, stronger than before.

Kubica already thinking about his return.

Photo by xpb.cc.

He will again undergo surgery again today to stabilize the fractures in his right foot, upper arm and shoulder. "I can feel my fingers, they work, my arm too. But I must wait until the operation, then I will know" said Kubica. When he arrived at the hospital on Sunday he was in bad condition and had lost a lot of blood, and surgeons performed a seven-hour long operation to save his partly severed arm and hand. Doctors even feared for his life and advised his manager Daniele Morelli to call his parents in Poland and prepare them for the worst.

Kubica also referred to the injuries he sustained seven years ago, when he fractured that same arm in a road accident when he was a passenger in a car, which was driven by a friend, and was hit by a drunk driver. The car hit the barrier very hard, fracturing his right arm before it went off a cliff. "It was the same right arm, crushed. But after four days I could not feel it as well as now and that is a comfort," he said about his current injuries.

"I must come back this year," he was quoted saying by the Gazetta dello Sport. And the determined driver added, "I want to get back on the track stronger than ever. Because after these accidents you are not the same, you improve. It happened to me in 2007, after the crash in Canada. I was out for a race and when I came back I was better."

Kubica crashed heavily during the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix after his BMW- Sauber had hit the back of Jarno Trulli's Toyota. Kubica's car smashed head- on into the concrete barrier and made several rolls while it crossed the track again before the remains of the BMW came to a rest at the far side of the hairpin. Kubica was knocked out by the impact and airlifted to a hospital, but much to the surprise of the doctors, only had a few bruises and scratches. In 2008 Kubica took revenge by winning the Canadian Grand Prix.

Kubica after winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"A driver is not just accelerator and steering wheel, he's something more -- I am stronger as a driver and mentally since 2007. And it will be the same this time, when I am physically fit," he optimistically commented. Although his doctors have repeatedly said it would take up to a year to recover from these injuries, Kubica is nevertheless upbeat about his chances to return to Formula One this season. "But this time it will be harder," he said.

Asked by the Gazetta why he is so keen to participate in rally events he replied: "Rallies are not just a passion. They are also tough training for Formula One. I drive better in Formula One because I competed in so many rallies last year. Rallies help your concentration, when there is so little testing in Formula One." And explained, "Rallying has allowed me to work on certain areas where there is still room for improvement. It's important, in a season like this one with 20 Grands Prix." Asked whether he would continue his rally career alongside his Formula One career he just said: "I don't know. I'll see when the time comes."

Kubica is still totally dedicated to Formula One, and even this accident hasn't broken his good spirits and he remains undeterred. Looking at the photos of the Skoda which were published on Monday, one can only conclude this was a freak accident. He was very unlucky to say the least when his car hit the sharp end of the guardrail that penetrated the cockpit and went straight through the whole length of the car and in fact caused his horrific injuries. But at the same time he was incredible lucky as well, as he was just a whisker away from death.