Robert Józef Kubica (Polish pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɛrt kuˈbit͡sa] ; born 7 December 1984) is a Polish racing and rally driver, currently competing for AF Corse in the FIA World Endurance Championship and for AO in the European Le Mans Series. Kubica competed in Formula One between 2006 and 2021 and in the World Rally Championship from 2013 to 2016; he won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix with BMW Sauber, and remains the only Polish driver to compete in Formula One. In endurance racing, Kubica won the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMP2 class with WRT.
Between 2006 and 2009 he drove for the BMW Sauber F1 team, promoted from test driver to race driver during 2006. In June 2008, Kubica took his maiden and only Formula One victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. That season he led the championship at one stage, before finishing fourth overall, his best career position. Kubica drove for Renault in 2010 and was set to remain with the team in 2011. Several years later Kubica confirmed he had signed a pre-contract for the 2012 season with Ferrari, a move that was eventually cancelled by his devastating rally crash in early 2011.[1]
On 6 February 2011, Kubica was seriously injured in a crash at the Ronde di Andora rally, in which he suffered partial amputation to his forearm, and fractures on his right elbow, shoulder and leg.[2] He was taking part to better his skills.[3] Kubica told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport in a bedside interview that he could feel the fingers in his right hand and was determined to make a swift return to Formula One in 2011.[4][5] Since his return to good health, however, he initially stated that a return to Formula One would be "nearly impossible" because of his injury.[2][6] Since then, he took part in tests with Renault and Williams, admitting that a Formula One return in the near future was not impossible.[7]
Kubica returned to racing in September 2012, winning a minor rally in Italy.[8][9] Kubica was named one of "The Men of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine for his return to auto racing. In 2013, he drove for Citroën in the European and WRC2 Championships.[10][11] He went on to win the inaugural WRC-2 title, and moved to the WRC championship full-time in 2014, driving a Ford Fiesta RS WRC prepared by M-Sport.[12]
On 16 January 2018, it was announced that Kubica would become the reserve driver of Williams for the 2018 season.[13] On 22 November 2018, Kubica was announced as a Williams race driver for the 2019 Formula One season.[14] He left the Williams team at the end of 2019, moving across to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters,[15] while maintaining a Formula One presence as reserve and test driver for Alfa Romeo. He has made several appearances during practice sessions in his role as test driver, including pre-season testing in 2020, and he replaced Kimi Räikkönen at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix in 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Scott (11 July 2018). "Robert Kubica says he had signed F1 deal with Ferrari for 2012". Autosport. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Robert Kubica to miss start of 2012 season". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ "Kubica undergoes emergency surgery after rally crash in Italy". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "F1 ace Kubica 'much better' after rally crash in Italy". CNN. Turner Broadcasting System. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "Formula 1 driver Kubica targets quick return". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ "F1 return 'nearly impossible' – Kubica". ESPN F1. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ Green, Jonathan. "Robert Kubica has no 'obvious roadblocks' to F1 return, says Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul". Sky Sports F1. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ Beer, Matt. "Robert Kubica wins domestic rally on return to competition". Autosport. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Kubica Victorious, But Physically Limited on Return". Crash.net. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Robert Kubica will star in rallying, according to Petter Solberg". Autosport. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Kosciuszko surprised at Kubica WRC decision". WRC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ Beer, Matt (13 December 2013). "Robert Kubica commits to 2014 WRC with M-Sport". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Barretto, Lawrence (16 January 2018). "Robert Kubica gets Williams Formula 1 development role for 2018". Autosport.com. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ "Williams Martini Racing Confirms Robert Kubica as Race Driver for 2019". www.williamsf1.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ "Robert Kubica confirmed for DTM debut with BMW and ART Grand Prix". touringcartimes.com. 13 February 2020.