Robert Kubica returning to the cockpit of an F1 car for a private test with Renault hit us right in the feels, and is arguably one of the best stories to emerge from the sport in recent times.
His single-seater career was seemingly cut short by a terrible rallying crash in February 2011, where he severely injured his right hand and arm.
Since then, though, he’s competed in rallying and tried out a few GT outings recently too.
With a top talent no longer on the grid, it was awesome to see him drive an F1 car again earlier this week at the Valencia circuit.
He took to the track in a Lotus E20 from the 2012 season, as part of a test with Renault, and managed 115 laps in total.
Kubica was clearly delighted to know he can still drive an F1 car quickly and hinted that he’s up for a possible return in the future.
He told Sky Sports:
“For sure it’s kind of a new start for me. I don’t know what it will bring, but definitely it’s a nice feeling to know I can drive an F1 car after such a difficult period and having my limitations. To know I can drive the car and I can drive the car on good pace and I can drive the car for an entire grand prix distance is something which makes me happy and proud.
“Once I have done this test I would like to test more. It doesn’t depend only on my side, but I will keep working and hopefully one day I will have a chance to go forward and step-by-step maybe have [a] proper comeback.”
The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner said he immediately felt at home in the car and has been preparing for the test, which included tests in GP3 and Formula E machinery:
“I had very good feelings straight away in the car and I had very good feeling from a fitness point of view. Lately I have spent an awful lot of time and an awful lot of effort trying to prepare the best I can in case I will have opportunity to drive an F1 car and I had a great day.”
While a full-time F1 return would be epic, it’s probably not all that likely, but it’d be brilliant to see Kubica getting more test opportunities to see if it really is possible.
