Robert Kubica to test 2017-spec Renault in Hungary

[afx]

Renault has confirmed Robert Kubica will drive its current Formula One car at the upcoming in-season test in Hungary.

Kubica's promising F1 career was interrupted in 2011 when he suffered severe injuries in a rallying accident, but in recent months he has been exploring the possibility of a full-time return to the sport. In June he drove an F1 car for the first time in seven years during a private test with Renault at Valencia and he returned to the cockpit of the same 2012-spec car at a follow up test at Paul Ricard in July.

His return to an contemporary F1 car at the upcoming post-race test at the Hungaroring on August 2 will represent the biggest step yet in his remarkable return, and Renault is open to the possibility of a full-time drive if it goes well.

"The first two days of testing allowed both Robert and ourselves to gather a great amount of information," Renault F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul said. "The upcoming session with the R.S.17 at the Hungaroring will allow us all to obtain detailed and precise data in a current car and representative conditions.

"After this test, we will carefully analyse the collected information to determine in what conditions it would be possible for Robert to return to competition in the upcoming years."

Kubica last drove an up-to-date F1 car at the opening pre-season test of 2011, just one week before his brutal rallying accident in Italy. His injuries left him with reduced mobility in his right wrist and forearm that prevented an immediate return to single seaters in the following years. Kubica has participated in the WRC and a number of one-off circuit races since his accident, but said recently he was only ever working towards another F1 opportunity.

"I have been a long time away from the circuit and in the last 18 months I have not been driving [regularly] -- it's been single races in different categories and trying to find my place," he said earlier this month.

"When you get in an F1 car and after one lap you see the pace is there, it's special emotions and I miss it so much, but probably my biggest problem in these past years is that I had different good offers but I was waiting for that one.

"I'm happy with how the things went and I am enjoying the period because believe me, I have been through difficult days, but I have to enjoy it and I never believed I would be in this position four or five months ago. It's great for me."

[dublin boy]

I doubt we'll ever see him in F1 again JC, more's the pity.

Our own Rosemary Smith from Dublin drove an F1 Renault recently, I'd like to have her as an Aunt!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHL7BKNGuFs&t=53s

Good on her.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2017 by dublin boy

[Jim N]

Best of luck to him.  A lot has changed in 6 years.  It will interesting to see how he does and what kind of pace he runs.

[afx]

He ran tests earlier this year and showed good speed, see below:

 

Renault impressed with second Robert Kubica test

Robert Kubica's chances of a sensational return to Formula One have gained another boost after another impressive private test outing for Renault this week.

Kubica, who had returned to an open wheel car for the first time since 2011 last month in a private outing at Valencia, was given another chance at Paul Ricard on Wednesday to assess his readiness for a full-scale F1 return, driving a modified 2012 car. The Polish driver's promising F1 career was cut short he suffered severe arm injuries in a rally crash six years ago.

The Polish driver completed 90 laps of the French circuit without issues, leaving him convinced he is capable of a full time return.

"It is necessary to go step by step," he told L'Equipe. "I have come a long way. Don't forget that. My doubts about my capacities have disappeared with these two days of tests. I am no longer afraid of not being at the level but there remains a way to go."

Renault told media he performed his test "completely". The successful test is likely to fuel speculation of Kubica returning to Renault full-time in 2017.

Renault did little to downplay rumours of Kubica making an appearance at the post-Hungarian Grand Prix tests at Budapest on August 1-2, where he would be able to test this year's car, saying it is "too early" to say whether he will join the team on those days.

Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: "He has so far only driven an old car, with a detuned engine, with demonstration tyres. He has not been submitted to the stresses of a race nor run with other cars."

Edited July 25, 2017 by afx

[afx]

Renault rules out Kubica replacing Palmer during 2017 F1 season

Renault insists Robert Kubica will not race in Formula 1 this season and that his Hungaroring test is purely to evaluate his chance of a 2018 comeback.

News Kubica will drive the current Renault next Wednesday fuelled speculation he could replace Jolyon Palmer as early as August's Belgian Grand Prix - a suggestion Renault managing director Cyril Abiteboul dismissed.

"We continue to support Jo and there is absolutely no change of plan," Abiteboul told Autosport.

"It is true that with Robert we feel we need to investigate a little bit further after all the tests we have done.

"Obviously there have been the tests we did with the 2012 car, but also we have done other things - medical checks and simulator work that I don't really want to elaborate on.

"We want to have a closer look about how realistic it would be for Robert to drive again in a modern F1 car, and possibly into a racing context.

"The last opportunity to at least do the test in a modern F1 car was the Hungary test, and we are taking that opportunity.

"But that is really something that is more medium to long term.

"It is not a short-term plan and it is not a short-term option to do anything with our driver line-up."

Abiteboul insisted a strong test performance from Kubica would not guarantee a 2018 seat.

"Robert could be a candidate for 2018 but before we can really consider him as a candidate, we need to see how he will cope with cars with more downforce and with more power, because clearly the [2012] car he has been driving up until now is not representative," he said.

"Frankly, even if he does well, it does not mean immediately that we will decide to go for him for 2018 because there is more we need to look into."

He added that he had reassured Palmer over the implications of Kubica's test.

"I told him that Robert is not an immediate threat," said Abiteboul.

"Clearly we are looking at options for 2018, and Jo could be an option for 2018. That is in his hands.

"What we are doing with Robert has nothing to do with what Jo does this weekend or even after the summer break.

"But there will not be any replacement driver in Spa, as I've seen stories suggesting that too.

"I can confirm that Jo will be driving in Spa and the plan is for him to drive until the end of the season."

This weekend in Hungary, Palmer will get the new floor team-mate Nico Hulkenberg used at the British GP.

Abiteboul believes Palmer needs to rebuild his confidence, but must "perform like any driver who makes it to F1 has to perform".

"I am not going to take away the fact that there is pressure," he said.

"It is a competitive environment and that is never going to go away. But it is not a short term pressure."

[dublin boy]

Ken Tyrrell brought Dr. Jonathan Palmer into his office back in the day, he said you're not fast enough, time to stop now.

Could be nearly time foe someone to call young Jolyon in soon, or am I being unfair JC?

[afx]

Ken Tyrrell brought Dr. Jonathan Palmer into his office back in the day, he said you're not fast enough, time to stop now.

Could be nearly time foe someone to call young Jolyon in soon, or am I being unfair JC?

No it's only a matter of time until Palmer is replaced in the team.  He has been out qualified by his teammate at every event so far this year. The only real question is will the axe fall before the end of the year.

[afx]

Kubica is at the wheel of the Renault for today's test.  Times so far:

Times at 12:35
1. Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari - 1:17.124 - 40 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari - 1:18.237 - 10 laps
3. Lando Norris - McLaren - 1:18.539 - 47 laps
4. Lucas Auer - Force India - 1:18.242 - 44 laps
5. George Russell - Mercedes - 1:19.499 - 36 laps
6. Robert Kubica - Renault  - 1:19.681 - 58 laps
7. Carlos Sainz - Toro Rosso - 1:20.055 - 59 laps

8. Pierre Gasly - Red Bull - 1:20.337 - 44 laps
9. Luca Ghiotto - Williams - 1:20.414 - 59 laps
10. Santino Ferrucci - Haas - 1:21.235 - 56 laps
11. Nobu Matsushita - Sauber - 1:23.133 - 35 laps

[dublin boy]

That's encouraging.

[afx]

Times at close:

1. Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari - 1:17.124 - 40 laps
2. Lando Norris - McLaren - 1:17.385 - 91 laps
3. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari - 1:17.842 - 60 laps
4. Robert Kubica - Renault - 1:18.572 - 142 laps
5. Carlos Sainz - Toro Rosso - 1:18.850 - 68 laps
6. Daniil Kvyat - Toro Rosso - 1:19.116 - 54 laps
7. Lucas Auer - Force India - 1:19.242 - 49 laps
8. George Russell - Mercedes - 1:19.391 - 90 laps
9. Nikita Mazepin - Force India - 1:19.692 - 48 laps
10. Pierre Gasly - Red Bull - 1:20.337 - 102 laps
11. Luca Ghiotto - Williams - 1:20.414 - 161 laps
12. Santino Ferrucci - Haas - 1:20.994 - 116 laps
13. Nobu Matsushita - Sauber - 1:21.998 - 121 laps

Kubica's remarkable journey towards a possible return started with two private tests in old Renault F1 cars -- the second of which was publicly stated to be assessing his readiness for a full-time drive. With Renault clear he has lost none of the pace which made him such a respected driver by his peers, the questions about fitness and his psychical limitations were the biggest heading into Wednesday's test -- an appearance which has done little to cool speculation the French manufacturer is ready to put him back in a Formula One car.

Kubica finished fourth in the order, 1.4s down on Vettel, though reading too much into his times is unfair given he had never driven a modern F1 car or used Pirelli's compounds. His time of 1:18.572 (on ultra-softs) was a tenth slower than Renault's Jolyon Palmer set in Q2 on Saturday with super-soft tyres, though differences in car set-up, track evolution and the time of day they were set make an accurate or meaningful comparison impossible. Of more interest was his mileage, 142 laps, which accounts for just over two full race distances of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Polish driver's test was watched by a sizeable contingent of his home fans who have travelled to Hungary. At one stage, Kubica walked from the Renault garage to wave to the fans, prompting a football stadium-style roar of approval which could be heard the other side of the paddock.

In a statement released by Renault immediately after the conclusion of the test, Kubica said: ""It was a fantastic feeling for me to be here today in the R.S.17 and also it was amazing to see so many fans come to see me out on track, so thank you to all of them. It has been an incredible journey to this point, where I have answered many questions to myself. I learnt a lot about the latest generation car, as there are a reasonable amount of differences between it and the Formula 1 cars I have driven in the past.

"The car is certainly wider than before. I was able to work through the team's programme methodically and I think we made good progress. Certainly my understanding of the R.S.17 and the 2017 tyres came on a lot. After today, it's too early to say what the next step might be. For now, I owe a big thanks to everyone at Renault Sport Formula One Team for making this test happen."

Edited August 2, 2017 by afx

[waynehulsey]

Its been that long! Time is just moving too fast for me anymore.

[935k3]

Great to see him doing well. I hope he gets a chance to drive again.

[afx]

Kubica being able to complete 142 laps might be the most impressive thing about this test - shows his wrist/hand would hold up for a race distance.