Text and Photo by Dana Larkin

Kubica Recovery "Going Well" But Will Not Return This Year

Renault chairman Gerard Lopez says that injured driver Robert Kubica's recovery is "going well" but that he will not return to the grid in 2011.

Kubica - who was in a near-fatal crash while participating in the Ronde di Andora Rally event in Italy back on February 6 - has been working hard to make a comeback to racing this year. In an interview with ESPNF1.com, Lopez said that Kubica was ready to return to the grid mentally, but that it will take more time to recover physically. In the interview, Lopez noted Kubica's ability to bounce back mentally from big shunts - such as his horrific crash at Canada in 2007 - and that if anyone can overcome such a setback, it is Robert.

Despite making the difficult admission that Kubica will not race in 2011, Lopez did not dwell on whether or not allowing Kubica to participate in rallying was a prudent idea. "I think he's going to be okay and hopefully we'll see him in a Formula One car again although I don't think that will happen this season." Lopez said. "I'm sure he has regrets at Rallying but that doesn't do anything for you, it's all about focusing on coming back."

This somber news comes on the heels of a somewhat optimistic AUTOSPORT.com report stating that Kubica would be entering a new and more intense phase of his rehabilitation following a final operation on his damaged elbow. The lack of movement in Kubica's right elbow has been cited as the primary setback in his recovery and return to the grid.

 

Great report! Posted on magazine page!

 

Sucks! Hopefully we'll see him back in 2012!

 

That's a shame but not entirely surprising. Hopefully he'll spend the rest of the year training and preparing to get back in the car next season.

 

^ As much as I hope for his return in 2012, I just don't see it.

He is - just now - having a final operation on his elbow.

That means that he will - almost certainly - have some loss of range.

If you are still having surgery six months after an injury, then calcification and scar tissue will be a real problem.

I am no doctor, but I have been through a bad accident like this.

 

that is too bad, we will miss him if he does not return in 2012

 

GO GO Robert..!! I believe 2012 will come back.

 

im not surprised, he almost lost his arm or leg i forgot now, he soo lucky to even be alive, how could you physicaly recover from that and race f1 competetivly again, i dnt se it

 

I'm pulling for him to return in 2012.

Can the financial effects (Renault CC points, sponsor moneys, etc) of this crash and injury been quantified? If not done yet, could F1 teams protect their investment in drivers by prohibiting participation in other sports?

 

Im very pessimistic about him returning at the beginning of 2012. I cut through a tendon in my finger last year and it took almost a full year to gain almost (still not there yet) full motion. His injury was of course a lot worse than mine. My scar tissue is still really bad after all the physical therapy I did. My thoughts are with him to gain a full recovery very soon, but I just don't see it happening for quite awhile.