Robert Kubica update

Renault remains in the dark about whether or not Robert Kubica will make a Formula 1 comeback next year - as it says it is still awaiting news on when the Polish driver will be able to drive a racing car again.

With team chiefs eager to formulate a plan for its 2012 driver line-up, Renault boss Eric Boullier says that plans to put Romain Grosjean in the car for Friday practice in Abu Dhabi and Brazil are part of an effort to look at other choices now.

"We have to assess options and we are still waiting for Robert to come back to us to say he can test," explained Boullier.

"The last information I have is that we will have to sit down and discuss how we can handle his [Kubica's] comeback, because I don't believe he can commit in the coming days. In the coming weeks maybe – but not coming days.

"So we have to make sure that we work together on a plan for him to come back. But I still need to have a proper plan to make sure that, which I don't wish, if he is not coming back how we go forward in a good way."

Although Boullier says Kubica's management team remains confident he will race in F1 again, no final decision can be taken until he has actually tested.

Boullier added: "We have everything ready. The 2009 cars are ready in the garage, ready to fire up. We are ready for him but we are waiting for him to tell us he is ready.

"I know they are very confident and I am happy about this, because I am the first one wishing to have Robert back in the car, but nobody knows.

"Nobody has a medical report and nobody has seen him driving a car and being at speed. Until we see him and have the confirmation then, we can not say anything. And we need to keep, unfortunately, the option of not having him back.

"I am in regular contact with his manager, but until he is driving the car we do not know."

Source: autosport

It may come to a point where Renault say 'look enough is enough, we need to make a decision and Petrov & Grosjean will be our drivers'. Petrov will be retained through sponsorship he brings in ahead of Senna.

I think if Kubica does prove his fitness at a later date after Renault have confirmed there driver line up, he will sign for Ferrari as the 2012 test driver (and if successful) will replace Massa for the 2013 season. That's my personal opinion.

There was a rumor going around the other week that if Renault didn't offer Robert a deal for 2012 Williams would and the way its going he could end up as team-mate to Kimi Raikkonen (deal Expected to be announced in Abu Dhabi)

If Robert is fit and firing, Kimi and Robert would be a great partnership.

Demon Racer wrote:If Robert is fit and firing, Kimi and Robert would be a great partnership.

There's no doubt that partnership is truly breathtaking. However, there is huge risk to hiring both drivers who have been out of the sport for a substantial period of time. There's no doubting there abilities in their prime physical and mental state, however there is no guarantee of them ever achieving the success or being as competitive as they were before leaving Formula 1. I can't see Williams taking the risk. Sutil & Raikkonen looks more realistic in my opinion.

John wrote:

Demon Racer wrote:If Robert is fit and firing, Kimi and Robert would be a great partnership.

There's no doubt that partnership is truly breathtaking. However, there is huge risk to hiring both drivers who have been out of the sport for a substantial period of time. There's no doubting there abilities in their prime physical and mental state, however there is no guarantee of them ever achieving the success or being as competitive as they were before leaving Formula 1. I can't see Williams taking the risk. Sutil & Raikkonen looks more realistic in my opinion.

I think that Kimi needs a driver like Robert to push him into producing his best. If Sutil partnered Kimi, Kimi knows that Sutil isn't any sort of threat to him.