Robert Kubica’s manager has denied the Pole will not be ready to race at the start of the 2012 season, claiming he is hoping the driver can start the season with his Renault team.
On Wednesday Renault issued a statement in which it said Kubica will miss the start of next year’s season as he will not be ready following his dramatic accident in a rally car earlier this year.
“Even if I’ve been working very, very hard over the course of the last few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season. I have called the team and I have informed them of the situation,” Kubica said in the Renault statement.
On Thursday, however, his manager Daniele Morelli said it is not true Kubica has ruled out being back for the start of the season, instead claiming he only said he is uncertain he can be ready for the first pre-season tests.
Morelli also said Kubica’s current contract expires at the end of this year and not at the end of 2012 as claimed by Renault, which said it was in talks with the driver’s management over the possibility of extending it until 2013.
“I don’t understand why Renault has changed Robert’s words,” Morelli was quoted as saying by 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. Yahoo! Eurosport UK
“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.”
Involved in an horrific crash in a rally in Andorra in February, Kubica suffered severe damage to his right forearm, as well as fractures to his right elbow, shoulder and leg.
Following four operations, Kubica has undergone a lengthy period of rehabilitation but has so far not driven a car and has subsequently decided to delay the possible date of his return to racing.
Morelli concedes there have been complications, adding: “Plans have gone out of the window. But if Robert comes back that’s because he will be competitive like before and attractive for the top teams.” Daily Mail
Kubica said his recovery has been “very encouraging and my doctors keep being impressed,” but also described this year’s events as “the most difficult period of my life”.
The final race of the 2011 season will be this weekend in Brazil.
Preseason testing begins in earnest in Jerez, Spain in February. The opening 2012 race is in Melbourne, Australia on 18 March.
Renault said it would talk to “a few drivers” as it assesses its options for next season, with current drivers Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna and test driver Romain Grosjean considered to be the leading candidates for the race seats.
“Everybody in the team is, of course, very disappointed today,” Renault team principal Eric Boullier said in a statement. “Robert not driving in Australia at the start of next season is not what we were all hoping for. However, he has taken a very mature decision, acting in the best interests of Lotus Renault GP.” The Guardian
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