Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica (IPA: ['robɛrt ku'beetsa], ; born: December 7, 1984 in Kraków, Poland) is the first Polish racing driver to compete in Formula One. From 2006 he has driven for the BMW Sauber F1 team, promoted from test driver to race driver during 2006. In June 2008 he achieved his maiden F1 victory in the unpredictable Canadian Grand Prix, becoming the 99th F1 racer to win a Grand Prix. At the present time Robert Kubica is already considered the best technical driver on the entire Formula one circuit by Bernie Ecclestone himself.

Pre-Formula One

Karting

Kubica developed his love for all kinds of cars at the young age of four when he spotted a small off-road vehicle, powered by a 4 bhp petrol engine. After long talks with his parents, his father, Artur, bought him the car and young Kubica spent long hours driving around plastic bottles. When he got older it became apparent that he needed better equipment, so his father bought him a go-kart. However, Robert was too young to start racing in the Polish Karting Championship as he was under the age of ten. When he entered the championship, he won six titles in three years. After his third season, Kubica decided to switch to a more competitive league in Italy. In 1998 Kubica became the first foreigner to win the International Italian Karting Championship.

Kubica also scored second place in the European Karting Championship and won the Monaco Kart Cup held on part of the Formula One Grand Prix track. A year later, he defended his title in Italy and also competed in the International German Karting Championship. He also won the Monaco Kart Cup for the second time in a row, as well as the Margutti Trophy and Elf Masters races. In 2000, his last season in karting, Robert scored fourth places in both the European and World Championships.

Junior Formulae

Kubica with the Epsilon Euskadi team.

Kubica started his professional career in 2000, as a test driver for a Formula Renault 2000 car. During his first professional season in Formula Renault, Kubica scored his maiden pole position and also became a member of Renault's driver development programme. In 2002 Kubica won four races and scored a second place in the Italian Formula Renault 2000. He was also seventh in the Formula Renault Eurocup. At the end of the year he took part in a Brazilian Formula Renault 2000 race held at the Interlagos circuit. This one-off appearance resulted in a dominant win.

After Formula Renault, Kubica moved to the Formula Three Euro Series. However, his move was delayed by a road accident which left him with a broken arm, and titanium screws holding it together. At his delayed debut at Norisring, Kubica, driving with a plastic brace and 18 titanium bolts in his arm, won the race. He finished the season in 12th place. At the end of the year, Kubica won a street race in Sardinia and came fifth in races held in Macau and Korea. He ended his second season in the Formula 3 Euro Series, spent with the factory Mercedes team, in 7th position. In November 2004, he scored pole position in the Macau F3 Grand Prix, where he broke the lap record, but finished second in the race.

In 2005 he won the World Series by Renault championship with the Epsilon Euskadi team, earning Formula One tests with Renault.

Formula One

2006

File:Kubica BMW1.jpg

Kubica driving the BMW Sauber F1.06 during Pre-Season testing in Barcelona.

In 2006 Kubica became the official third/test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team. His results in both Friday testing and private test sessions, along with the words of BMW Sauber's manager Mario Theissen, led to speculation that he would become Poland's first ever Formula One racing driver in 2007. In August 2006, Kubica's teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, complained about headaches after his accident during the 2006 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim; with mediocre below par performance, he was deemed unfit to race by the team, against his own belief, and Kubica was chosen by the team management to replace him at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.[1] Kubica qualified ninth, beating his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld. In the race, he finished in seventh place, but was disqualified after the race for having an underweight car. Villeneuve decided to leave the BMW Sauber team soon after the race, and it looked certain that Kubica would stay on as Heidfeld's teammate until the end of the season and he might also drive for the team next year. This was confirmed after a BMW spokesperson told reporters that: "Robert Kubica will drive in the remaining races of the season. That is our current plan."

Kubica as BMW Sauber's third driver at the 2006 United States Grand Prix.

Kubica had a more disappointing race in Turkey, finishing in 12th place after a mistake in tyre choice. Heidfeld, who was delayed in a first-corner accident, placed behind Kubica.

In his third race, the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Kubica finished in third position, and became the first Polish driver to appear on a Formula One podium, as well as the first Polish driver to lead a Grand Prix. He is one of four drivers in the last decade to finish on the podium within his first three Formula One starts, the others being Ralf Schumacher (Argentina 1997), Alexander Wurz (Great Britain 1997), and Lewis Hamilton (Australia 2007).

In Kubica's fourth race, the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, he finished 13th, again after a mistake in tires choice. After going off track at the first turn of the race, he moved from 17th position to fifth, before pitting. He was the first to change to dry tires from intermediates after the wet track started to dry. This decision was made too early: a very slow next lap in extremely wet and slippery conditions and another pit stop to change back to intermediates cost him his place in the points.

2007

Kubica's violent crash at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.

Kubica driving for BMW Sauber at the 2007 British Grand Prix.

With at that time very unreliable car, and frequently failing gear box, Kubica was noted with quite stable and very consistent performance during 2007 season, finishing consistently in point scoring positions. At the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix Kubica had a serious crash approaching the hairpin on lap 27 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Kubica car after contact with Jarno Trulli's Toyota went airborne and crashed. With damaged front wing the car became airborne. First the car clipped parked on the median with right front wheel car of Scott Speed, than at aproxmatelly 70 degree hit the 3,5 feet tall concreete wall. The car bounced of it, spun front to back, than barrell-rolls down upside down disintegrating in to pieces, flying backward crossed the race track. With only one wheel still on the car, the car came to rest on its right side after striking the 3 rail metal safety barrier on the outside of the hairpin. Kubica under safety car conditions, was removed from the car and taken to the circuit's medical centre, where it was confirmed that he is in "stable" condition. No information regarding any potential injuries was known at this time. Shortly afterwards, his manager Daniele Morelli reasured that Kubica was conscious and talking. The onboard accident data recorder ADR is built in the BMW Sauber car, placed behind the driver below the fuel tank. The device, black boxr oughly 15 by 15 centimetres big, is capable of logging data from the whole race. After data from the onboard accident data recorder was studied at Indianapolis by former Lotus engineer Peter Wright, now head of the FIA safety commission, together with his colleagues Andy Mellor and Hubert Gramling, it was found that he had been subjected to a peak G-force of 75 G. Dr. Mario Theissen the BMW Sauber principal, later confirmed that Robert was not seriously injured. Dr. Mario Theissen visited Robert at the hospital, and than assured that Robert is retained by BMW Sauber, and that his contract is extended. Kubica during the crash crossed his arms against his chest, what prevented him not only from the wrist injuries. In a very dangerous accident at Nascar in February 2001 Dale Earnhardt sustained critical cranial injury. There is no doubt that Formula One cars are built with safety on mind. The use of Head and Neck System substantially increased the safety of drivers, despite the limitations of hed movement imposed by such devices. Formula One mandated HANS devices in 2001 after extensive testing, sharing the results with other FIA affiliates.

Further reports from late evening on race day, directly from the hospital, confirmed that Kubica had suffered a light concussion alongside a sprained ankle. After being kept in overnight for observation, Kubica left hospital the following day. On June 14 it was announced that due to precautions Kubica would not race at Indianapolis and would be replaced by his younget 19 years old test driver Sebastian Vettel. After missing Indy, he returned to circuit starting at Magny-Cours where he qualified and finished in fourth place, receiving ITV broadcaster Martin Brundle's driver of the day award. He then went on to finish fourth again at the British Grand Prix.

2008

Kubica's retention as race driver for 2008 was confirmed on August 21 2007. Kubica qualified second on the grid at the opening race of the 2008 season, the Australian Grand Prix, behind Lewis Hamilton. He retired from the race after a collision with Kazuki Nakajima.

Kubica won the first race of his F1 career at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

In the Malaysian Grand Prix, Kubica finished second.

On April 5 2008 at the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix, Kubica scored his first pole position of his Formula One career (also first pole for his team), narrowly beating Felipe Massa. He finished the race in third.

On May 25 2008 at the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, Kubica finished second, after starting 5th on the grid.

On June 8 2008 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Kubica achieved his first ever victory after starting in 2nd, putting him in the Championship lead. Kubica effectively won the race in the pit lane, first passing race leader Lewis Hamilton after the BMW pit crew completed a faster pitstop. Kubica and Kimi Räikkönen's Ferrari halted at the red light at the pit lane exit, waiting for the green pit exit light to come. Lewis Hamilton exiting late from the service running attempting to catch them have had not realised the red light stop and rear ended into Räikkönen's Ferrari, eliminating both cars from the race. He consequently was hit by Nico Rosberg. On the green light Kubica happilly rejoined the race.

Nick Heidfeld in the second BMW Sauber, running a one stop fuel strategy, briefly positioned himself in front of Kubica after pit stop, but running a much heavier car, was overtaken by his lighter team-mate. Heidfeld then kept a charging Fernando Alonso at bay. The strategy of BMW Sauber required one more pit stop for Robert Kubica. To beat Nick Heidfield, Robert needed to gain at minimum 24 seconds on Nick during 22 laps. Robert flown marvelously and after the last pit stop he emerged just a second ahead of Nick Heidfeld. At this moment, ahead of his team-mate, granted that there will be not another trouble on the track, at that point he almost assured himself the checkered flag. Kubica's victory was never challenged for the remainder of the race, with the lead and Nick Heidfeld behind him he just needed to finish the race, and his first well earned victory. That was a spectacular race with both BMW taking first and the second.

• and Rosberg penalized for pit-lane collision

Kubica later kidded that he should thank Hamilton for electing to crash into Räikkönen instead of him.

On June22 2008 at the 2008 French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours after modyfication of the car's aerodynamics Kubica's car was not properly tuned. Kubica finished at 5th, and Nick Heidfeld at 13 th. Kubica reported that this was a lost race, and he just wanted ti finish getting as many points as he can in his attempt to pursuit this year the World championship. Kubica explained that he hopes that in 2 weeks of preparation for British Grand Prix the aerodinamics of the car would be solved.

Racing record

Kubica testing the BMW Sauber F1.08 in January 2008.

Crashes

• Robert Kubica's Crash at the Canadian Grand Prix in pictures.

Career summary

Season	Series	Team Name	Races	Poles	Wins	Points	Final Placing
2001	Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup	RC Motorsport	10	1	0	46	14th
	Formula Renault 2000 Italy	RC Motorsport	5	0	0	27	13th
2002	Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup	RC Motorsport	8	1	0	80	7th
	Formula Renault 2000 Italy	RC Motorsport	10	3	4	188	2nd
	Formula Renault 2000 Brazil	RS2	1	1	1	?	?
2003	Formula Three Euroseries	Prema Powerteam	13	0	1	31	12th
	British Formula Three	Prema Powerteam	2	0	0	0	NC
	Macau Grand Prix	?	1	0	0	N/A	NC
	Masters of Formula Three	?	1	0	0	N/A	33rd
	F3 Korean Superprix	Target Racing	1	0	0	N/A	6th
2004	Formula Three Euroseries	Mücke Motorsport	20	0	0	53	7th
	Macau Grand Prix	Manor Motorsport	1	1	0	N/A	2nd
2005	World Series by Renault	Epsilon Euskadi	17	3	4	154	1st
	Macau Grand Prix	Carlin Motorsport	1	0	0	N/A	2nd
2006	Formula One	BMW Sauber	6	0	0	6	16th
2007	Formula One	BMW Sauber	16	0	0	39	6th
2008	Formula One	BMW Sauber	8	1	1	46	2nd*

* Season in progress

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	WDC	Points
2006	BMW Sauber F1 Team	BMW Sauber F1.06	BMW P86 2.4 V8	BHR TD	MAL TD	AUS TD	SMR TD	EUR TD	ESP TD	MON TD	GBR TD	CAN TD	USA TD	FRA TD	GER TD	HUN DSQ	TUR 12	ITA 3	CHN 13	JPN 9	BRA 9	16th	6
2007	BMW Sauber F1 Team	BMW Sauber F1.07	BMW P86/7 2.4 V8	AUS Ret	MAL 18	BHR 6	ESP 4	MON 5	CAN Ret	USA Inj	FRA 4	GBR 4	EUR 7	HUN 5	TUR 8	ITA 5	BEL 9	JPN 7	CHN Ret	BRA 5		6th	39
2008	BMW Sauber F1 Team	BMW Sauber F1.08	BMW P86/8 2.4 V8	AUS Ret	MAL 2	BHR 3	ESP 4	TUR 4	MON 2	CAN 1	FRA 5	GBR	GER	HUN	EUR	BEL	ITA	SIN	JPN	CHN	BRA	2nd*	46*

* Season in progress

Miscellaneous

Kubica said in an interview that his sporting hero is English snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, which left the interviewer confused, wondering which driver he was. Kubica enjoys snooker and is a keen poker player.

References

All Formula One race and championship results are taken from:

• Official Formula 1 Website. Archive: Results for 2006 - Present seasons Formula1.com. Retrieved 22 August 2006

External links

• Robert Kubica f1.com
• Kubica's crash data disclosed
• Kubica's 75Gs, and We Don't Mean Money
• Official web site
• Fans Website
• Formula One Polish site
• Robert Kubica english fan site
• Robert Kubica's Unofficial english Fan Site
• Career details
• Kubica statistics in Formula One
• Robert Kubica Fan Club

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