Kubica injured after crashing out of rally

vincenzolorenzo

bamboozling wrote: »

Because he's worth it. Get in Heidfeld, De La Rosa or Senna if you want and Renault will probably get the odd podium and maybe a race win. With Kimi driving I'd expect Renault to be challenging for titles if the car is as quick as it looks.

Sometimes in life you gotta pay over the odds for a good thing. Ferrari did it in 1996 paying Schumacher $50 million over two years. That turned out rather well.

Actually on an aside this probably scuppers the rumours that Kubica was to join Alonso at Ferrari.

Wouldn't agree with you at all. Ferrari-Schumacher worked out (after 4 years, it was by no means an overnight success) because Schumacher worked incredibly hard to develop the car and team, and he brought the top Benetton people with him. Raikkonen on the other hand is not a team leader by any stretch of the imagination. he's fast when he wants to be. As soon as he loses interest at all he just goes off the boil. See 2008 and 2009 as a case in point. Overall, very disappointing performance from someone who is apparently the fastest out there.

I'm not a fan, i have to say

amacachi

vincenzolorenzo wrote: »

Wouldn't agree with you at all. Ferrari-Schumacher worked out (after 4 years, it was by no means an overnight success) because Schumacher worked incredibly hard to develop the car and team, and he brought the top Benetton people with him. Raikkonen on the other hand is not a team leader by any stretch of the imagination. he's fast when he wants to be. As soon as he loses interest at all he just goes off the boil. See 2008 and 2009 as a case in point. Overall, very disappointing performance from someone who is apparently the fastest out there.

I'm not a fan, i have to say

At least there'd be a chance he'd pull something out of the bag. Does anyone really think Heidfeld, DLR or Senna have it in them to put Renault in with a shout this season?

vincenzolorenzo

losthorizon wrote: »

Very sad sight when they come upon Kubicas car and thats the reason they got rid of all the armco barriers in F1. Too many deaths and serious injuries.

They still have armco barriers in F1 I thought?

muckwarrior

amacachi wrote: »

Does anyone really think Heidfeld, DLR or Senna have it in them to put Renault in with a shout this season?

Heidfeld is underrated IMO. Kubica may have had the edge on him at BMW, but not by much.

WesternNight

The latest according to formula1.com

Renault’s Robert Kubica was able to talk to relatives and move the fingers in his injured right hand on Monday morning, after being briefly awoken by doctors at Italy’s Santa Corona Hospital (Pietra Ligure).

Kubica was placed into an artificially-induced coma on Sunday after undergoing seven hours of surgery to reconstruct his right forearm, following a high-speed crash whilst competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.

The Polish driver spent the night under constant observation and on Monday Professor Mario Igor Rossello, Director for the Regional Centre of Hand Surgery at San Paolo Hospital in Savona, encouragingly reported that there is no swelling or infection on the right forearm, though it will be several days before it is known if the operation has been 100 percent successful.

In order to avoid further physical stress, Kubica will be put under gentle medication in order to sleep for the next 24 hours at least. In the meantime doctors will decide how to treat his elbow and shoulder fractures. Kubica may have to undergo surgery once again for this, but not for a few days.

bamboozling

vincenzolorenzo wrote: »

Wouldn't agree with you at all. Ferrari-Schumacher worked out (after 4 years, it was by no means an overnight success) because Schumacher worked incredibly hard to develop the car and team, and he brought the top Benetton people with him. Raikkonen on the other hand is not a team leader by any stretch of the imagination. he's fast when he wants to be. As soon as he loses interest at all he just goes off the boil. See 2008 and 2009 as a case in point. Overall, very disappointing performance from someone who is apparently the fastest out there.

I'm not a fan, i have to say

But I'm a fan of Kimi, not a fan boy but a follower of his, so we're never going to agree!

But I think he's worth the punt for the season. Like Amacachi said he's the one driver out there who could pull something out of the bag.

Kimi were he hired might do nothing or else he could catch fire get motivated and have a great season. It could go either way but for me the reward outweighs the punishment because even if he doesn't have a good season he'll probably still pull out 1 or 2 great performances.

The Schumacher comparison was a bit off but I will say this. I'll never forget the 2009 Belgian grand prix, he got the car to qualify 6th when it shouldn't have been, got up to first with the safety car, Kers and some lax stewarding. But he had Fisi in a faster car up his hole for nearly 40 odd laps and he didn't err so much as once. If you could get that performance out of him most races Renault would be onto a winner.

mickdw

frostie500 wrote: »

Just after seeing this on twitter, shocking image of the full extent of the crash:

Jesus, had to have a look at the video again as I didnt see the barrier sticking out the back like that the first time. That is scary sh1t. Lucky lucky guys to get out of that.

Seems like great news that he can move his fingers tonight.

thegoth

I think every agrees that Kimi would be the fastest driver that Renault could get, but assume that they cant agree a deal, who would you have next. Personally, I'd have Heidfield even over Nico Hulkenberg. Heidfield is a former GP2 (F3000) champion and has LOADS of experience plus he was faster than Kubica at BMW for one year, slower another and fairly even with him another. I think far too much weight has been given to Hulkenberg's Brazilian qualifying performance. One fine day never meet a summer!!

thegoth

Computer simulation of Kubicas crash http://www.gpupdate.net/en/videos/752/computer-simulation-of-kubica-s-accident/

losthorizon

Gerbers account of the crash

http://motortweets.com/robertkubica/news/447187

Ghost Train

Theres a small bump in the road just after where the second marshell is holding the yellow flag, read it's because of a tree root. That and the damp road is what was blamed for him loosing control in one of the first reports I read

Iron Hide

After looking at the sim, i am actually amazed at how Kubica or indeed his co-driver were not completely impaled on the armco.
I know accidents happen and all that, and i'll probably incur the wrath of rallying fans but i think the WRC will have to seriously look at the dangers of armco barriers for the coming seasons and possibly adjust rally stages accordingly.

I wouldnt call myself a rally fan at all but i have tremendous respect for the drivers past and present, and the last thing motorsport needs is a spate of serious accidents or a death. Armco's were dispensed with in F1 a few years ago, and i think it was a great move.

Whether its an F1 or GP2 car zooming around a track at 200 odd mph, or a WRC car being thrashed around a windy road in Andorra, neither one hitting a steel barrier is going to end well.

homer simpson

I don't think the Simulated video is totally accurate, as was discussed on another forum, all other reports, eyewitness and co-driver ect, said that the car grazed the barrier then there was a break in the barrier and then they hit a second barrier head on...

mickdw

The armco is kubicas crash must have been installed in a location where it was always going to be a danger given that the car was able to it it pretty square on the end. Poor form really

EvilMonkey

Iron Hide wrote: »

After looking at the sim, i am actually amazed at how Kubica or indeed his co-driver were not completely impaled on the armco.
I know accidents happen and all that, and i'll probably incur the wrath of rallying fans but i think the WRC will have to seriously look at the dangers of armco barriers for the coming seasons and possibly adjust rally stages accordingly.

I wouldnt call myself a rally fan at all but i have tremendous respect for the drivers past and present, and the last thing motorsport needs is a spate of serious accidents or a death. Armco's were dispensed with in F1 a few years ago, and i think it was a great move.

Whether its an F1 or GP2 car zooming around a track at 200 odd mph, or a WRC car being thrashed around a windy road in Andorra, neither one hitting a steel barrier is going to end well.

Monaco is lined with armcos!

savagecabbages

If there is a section of armco on a rally stage, its there because its always been there. Any armco or walls are part of the original road.
The rally organizers cant be expected to line hundreds of km of stages with armco.

This was a freak accident, and hopefully Robert will go on to make a full recovery and compete again

frostie500

There was positive news from Italy this morning with local media reporting that Robert Kubica has been moved from the intensive care unit at Santa Corona hospital. The Pole, who has regained movement in his fingers, has been moved to a normal ward.

Kubica is set to undergo surgery on his foot tomorrow, before doctors operate on his elbow at the beginning of next week. When these surgeries are completed the Renault driver will return to ICU for post-surgery recovery.

Testing for new Formula 1 season continues in Jerez today and numerous cars have incorporated a get well soon message to Kubica.

no nails niall

homer_simpson wrote: »

Kimi has invested too much money into the WRC this year (team ice racing) to just walk away from it, he bought a new car / service lorry recce car ect, i cant see him going back to F1 especially when the first round of the WRC is this weekend, that and the fact he quit F1 for the WRC in the first place!

He might need some wonga to cover his investment.

reiger

Iron Hide wrote: »

After looking at the sim, i am actually amazed at how Kubica or indeed his co-driver were not completely impaled on the armco.
I know accidents happen and all that, and i'll probably incur the wrath of rallying fans but i think the WRC will have to seriously look at the dangers of armco barriers for the coming seasons and possibly adjust rally stages accordingly.

I wouldnt call myself a rally fan at all but i have tremendous respect for the drivers past and present, and the last thing motorsport needs is a spate of serious accidents or a death. Armco's were dispensed with in F1 a few years ago, and i think it was a great move.

Whether its an F1 or GP2 car zooming around a track at 200 odd mph, or a WRC car being thrashed around a windy road in Andorra, neither one hitting a steel barrier is going to end well.

will you go away and educate yourself on what happens in rallying,such a daft comment.
most F1 fans hadnt a clue what a skoda fabia S2K was before last sunday or what a rally car looked like, now there all experts.

Autosport

That was thoughtful of the teams to do that

Myrddin

reiger wrote: »

will you go away and educate yourself on what happens in rallying,such a daft comment.
most F1 fans hadnt a clue what a skoda fabia S2K was before last sunday or what a rally car looked like, now there all experts.

Are you for real? Most F1 fans?

All he said was the WRC should look at improving safety with regards to armco's. & he's right. Motorsport is a sport at the end of the day, it has its risks, but no sport is worth the cost of human fataities etc.

Iron Hide

reiger wrote: »

will you go away and educate yourself on what happens in rallying,such a daft comment.
most F1 fans hadnt a clue what a skoda fabia S2K was before last sunday or what a rally car looked like, now there all experts.

Oh yay an F1 hating rally fanboy!!:rolleyes:
I am not an expert on rallying, F1, Indycars, MotoGP, Touring cars etc. and nor will i pretend to be. All i'm saying is that there are ways to improve safety in all forms of motorsport so accidents like this can be prevented.

amacachi

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Alright guys, lets keep it friendly

You both have points but you cant compare F1 safety standards to rallying. Rallying by its very nature is on open roads, you cant expect them to have F1 standard barriers on a couple of hundred Km`s of stages. It was very unlucky crash but lets no go having one of those knee jerk reactions.

It's like road racing, there's an amount that can be done but there'll always be the few who are unfortunate every year. Not being critical of them or anything but they know the risks and choose to keep doing it.

ro_chez

As much as I like Kubica, he and everyone around him knows the risks of driving around a cliff face at 100+ mph. I dont agree in making knee jerk reactions, like those rediculous grooved tyres which plagued F1 for 10 years or the chicane at Eau Rouge, just because a top driver gets injured. And I'm sure Kubica and drivers of his mentality would not want to race in a steralised, risk free environment. That I respect.

And he has already made known his intention to be back racing in F1 before the season is over, which is great to hear.

Kubica determined to ‘come back stronger than before’

11 February 2011

Robert Kubica is hoping to make a return to Formula 1 during this year’s championship, with the Pole beginning a long course of recovery after a rally accident in Italy last weekend. The Lotus Renault GP driver believes a 2011 comeback is possible, with the sport entering an all-time record 20 Grands Prix this season.

Kubica was taken to hospital on Sunday after losing a substantial amount of blood, as well as suffering multiple fractures along the right-hand side of his body. Despite the serious nature of his injuries, the 26-year-old is remaining strong-minded, and wants to get back into the cockpit of an F1 car as soon as possible.

"I want on to be even stronger on my return than I was before," Kubica told Gazzetta dello Sport. "After my crash in Canada, I missed a race, but I came back stronger. Since 2007, I am mentally stronger and it will not be different this time. My goal is to return this year.

"I must return this year. I remember well my state when, seven years ago, I was in a car with a friend driving, we were hit by another car driven by a drunk. Back then too, we ended up against an armco barrier and bent it, before falling down a cliff."

Pre-season testing is continuing at Jerez this week, with Nick Heidfeld set to be at the wheel of the R31 on Saturday, when the German makes his bid to claim the currently vacant seat at Renault.


http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/252473/kubica-determined-to-come-back-stronger-than-before/

Autosport

its good to hear that he wants to get back into an F1 car and hopefully he makes a full recovery and gets back this season

johnnysmack

Great to hear he has the fight in him. Best news i heard all week.

losthorizon

I never knew he was hit by a drunk driver - he has really been through the wars .

kaizersoze

Christ. He's a bit of a jinx. If I ever see him boarding the same plane as me I'm getting off.:D

Ghost Train

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/6751568/Fiancee-Kubica-s-state-has-worsened

Some less positive news

leeroybrown

At this point I'd be listening to what the doctors say and not his fiancée.

Kevski

Renault have a released a statement ahead of Kubica's operation today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9397019.stm

Robert Kubica's Renault team say his condition remains "good" and he is due to have a final operation on Wednesday to repair his remaining injuries.

The Polish driver suffered multiple fractures and a partially severed right hand in a rally crash eight days ago.Surgeons have repaired his hand and on Friday they operated on fractures in his right arm and leg. The remaining surgery is to repair his injured elbow.Renault said he would stay in intensive care until his final operation.

A team statement on Monday read: "The latest update on Robert is that his condition remains positive. He will stay in intensive care for the next couple of days to allow a complete check-up and to avoid another change of department before his final operation. His good general condition means that the final surgery (on the elbow) is scheduled for Wednesday."

Renault's statement followed reports that Kubica's girlfriend had told a Polish television station that his physical and psychological condition had worsened. The team described the report as "wrong".

Kubica, 26, who finished eighth in the 2010 drivers' table, underwent seven hours of surgery to save his hand after crashing his Skoda Fabia against a church wall. On Friday, he underwent a further nine hours of surgery to rebuild his foot, shoulder and the inner part of his elbow. He is being treated at the Santa Corona Hospital, 35 miles south-west of Genoa, one of the country's leading trauma care units.

Kubica is expected to miss the entire 2011 season, but he told Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday that he was aiming to return to F1 before the end of the year. Renault are expected to name his former BMW Sauber team-mate Nick Heidfeld as his stand-in this week. The 33-year-old German impressed in a test at Jerez in Spain at the weekend, setting the fastest time on Saturday.

His girlfriend isn't a neurosurgeon then :P

stevenmu

They're (the doctors and fiancee) talking about different things and from different perspectives I think. When someone has had very serious injuries and major surgery, they're going to have better days and they're going to have worse days, both mentally and physically. As a visiting loved one his fiancee is going to be very focused on how he is feeling at any particular time. The doctors on the other hand will look at various scans and indicators etc to form an opinion about a long term prognosis and recovery prospects

EvilMonkey

stevenmu wrote: »

They're (the doctors and fiancee) talking about different things and from different perspectives I think. When someone has had very serious injuries and major surgery, they're going to have better days and they're going to have worse days, both mentally and physically. As a visiting loved one his fiancee is going to be very focused on how he is feeling at any particular time. The doctors on the other hand will look at various scans and indicators etc to form an opinion about a long term prognosis and recovery prospects

More like F1 sites willing to publish anything just for a few page views.

ro_chez

Skoda recreate Kubica’s rally accident

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeao7kmoFLw