Robert Kubica Has An F1 Seat Again 8 Years After Nearly Losing An Arm

Forget the Miracle at Medinah and Ben Ainslie’s incredible America’s Cup turnaround; this might just be the most astonishing sporting comeback ever

Robert Kubica, the former F1 and rally driver who nearly lost his right arm in a horrific rally crash, is returning to F1 in one of the most amazing sporting comebacks ever.

The Polish driver will replace young driver Sergey Sirotkin at Williams, with the Russian departing F1 for now despite being faster last time the two drivers tested together around this time last year. However, it’s understood that Sirotkin’s underwhelming performances combined with Kubica’s continued improvement has swung the balance of favour back towards the old warrior.

Kubica still has limited movement in his right hand and can’t grip the wheel properly with it. He claims to have adapted to what he calls his “limitations” and apparently doesn’t need to grip tightly with both hands in order to go fast.

The former Renault driver, who turns 34 in December, will partner promising young Brit George Russell at the struggling team.

Kubica was scheduled to race for Renault in the 2011 season but was badly injured in February of that year while driving a Super 2000-spec Skoda Fabia at a rally in northern Italy. As he left the road a crash barrier penetrated the cockpit on the driver’s side and caused horrific injuries to the then-26-year-old including partial amputation of his forearm and major fractures to his elbow, shoulder and leg on his right side.

It cut short what was expected to be a stellar career in F1, but now the brave racer is going to be back in a seat at motorsport’s top table once again. Few people expected the Pole to be physically capable of making a return but we’re glad to see him achieve the seemingly impossible.

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Comments

Robert Gracie

Its excellent to see him back in the sport!!

11/22/2018 - 10:43 |
5 | 1
Wogmidget
11/22/2018 - 11:01 |
39 | 1

You say that…. I honestly don’t think he’ll be any faster than the current line up.

He’s got wisdom and experience, but his withered arm with limit his abilities…

11/25/2018 - 01:40 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Yesssssss!!!

11/22/2018 - 11:06 |
0 | 0
Barrechor

oof downvotes

11/22/2018 - 11:07 |
2 | 8
DL🏁

As much as I’m glad to see him make such a comeback, I feel bad for Sirotkin - he was very consistent and finished ahead of Stroll (who has one more year worth of experience) most of the times. Not to mention Ocon…

11/22/2018 - 11:16 |
16 | 0

Ikr, I feel sad for Sirotkin as well, he was always overshadowed and you barely know anything about him at the races. He really shone through in Singapore though, pressuring Checo a veteran into so many mistakes. Granted it was never a fight of the century but still. I’m happy to see the Kubica comeback but at the expense #SirotkinTheLegend… I don’t know I’m conflicted

11/22/2018 - 13:25 |
5 | 0

Stroll regularly outscored Sirotkin, I’m not sure where you’re getting your data from…

11/22/2018 - 14:43 |
1 | 1
5:19.55

I believe that before his rallye crash, he was to drive for Ferrari the following season

11/22/2018 - 11:52 |
6 | 0
₩!Ź@ŔĐ Transit supervan

FYI that kubica twitter account is a fake .

11/22/2018 - 12:24 |
1 | 2
Anonymous

“However, it’s understood that Sirotkin’s underwhelming performances combined with Kubica’s continued improvement has swung the balance of favour back towards the old warrior.”

That and 10 million monies…..

11/22/2018 - 12:42 |
3 | 1
ThatV70Guy

Williams finally making a good choice

11/23/2018 - 20:10 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Pay driver tho

11/26/2018 - 22:53 |
0 | 0