Kubica back in an F1 car
Discussion
carl_w said:
TheInternet said:
Great story for Bob so far, but I don't think next year will go all that well and George will come out on top. Place your bets...
Even so, having an experienced driver to help develop the car and mentor the rookie is a good approach. 
FourWheelDrift said:
His FP1 runs this year.
Barcelona (Stroll limited on laps)
Austria
He was already a lot faster than Stroll in Spain before Stroll crashed out. In Austria the team admitted they were trying an experimental setup on his car that didn't work. This was at the height of the team's aero problems.Barcelona (Stroll limited on laps)
Austria
It will be interesting to see how he goes in FP1 tomorrow, especially as this is the track where he failed to impress the team enough to sign him to race this year.
mooseracer said:
kambites said:
who knows how much the physical handicap will impact his performance?
Williams and Kubica will have a fair ideaThat aside, I'm delighted that Bobby K will be back in F1 next year.
CaptainSensib1e said:
Does anyone actually have any insight into what happened to his hand? And more importantly how it has recovered? I seem to remember (could be wrong) reading reports back at the time that said he was still OK to race in other series, but there was something about the way you had to drive an F1 car that caused his hand a problem.
That aside, I'm delighted that Bobby K will be back in F1 next year.
He can't rotate his arm so has to move his right hand around the wheel to the bottom for tight left corners. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWjsbCf91iQ similar for rights I would imagine too.That aside, I'm delighted that Bobby K will be back in F1 next year.
CaptainSensib1e said:
Does anyone actually have any insight into what happened to his hand? And more importantly how it has recovered? I seem to remember (could be wrong) reading reports back at the time that said he was still OK to race in other series, but there was something about the way you had to drive an F1 car that caused his hand a problem.
That aside, I'm delighted that Bobby K will be back in F1 next year.
Issue iirc was how high he could lift his elbow due to shoulder damage and whether this would prevent him exiting the cockpit in an emergency or cause issues on really tight turns like the Monaco hairpin. That aside, I'm delighted that Bobby K will be back in F1 next year.
Has he been single seater racing in the meantime? I know he's beem into rallying, but not sure how good that is for general racecraft.
I was reading on the BBC earlier that he cant grip the wheel with his left hand but relies on the friction generated by pushing his hand onto it..........
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Car-Matt said:
I was reading on the BBC earlier that he cant grip the wheel with his left hand but relies on the friction generated by pushing his hand onto it..........
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
I know from breaking my right elbow that I can't twist my arm the same way as I can twist my left (I am missing a few degrees rotation). Kubica had a lot worse happen to him, and IIRC it was a question of him not being able to rotate his arm properly without it fouling the cockpit wall. Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Car-Matt said:
I was reading on the BBC earlier that he cant grip the wheel with his left hand but relies on the friction generated by pushing his hand onto it..........
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Why? they have had plenty of time to evaluate him.Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Personally I would have preferred that they take Ocon.
Vaud said:
Car-Matt said:
I was reading on the BBC earlier that he cant grip the wheel with his left hand but relies on the friction generated by pushing his hand onto it..........
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Why? they have had plenty of time to evaluate him.Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
Personally I would have preferred that they take Ocon.
Still, there was a lot of support for Bob to get the seat for this season, now next year we get to see what he brings.
HighwayStar said:
I'd have preferred Ocon as well but... I'm guessing, Williams being fiercely independent, they didn't want 2 Mercedes drivers in their car. Everyone would be saying they were just Mercs junior team and would likely beholden to any and all requests during a race.
Still, there was a lot of support for Bob to get the seat for this season, now next year we get to see what he brings.
Good points. I'm a fan of Bob but if I was a TP then maybe I'd want Ocon-Bob and take Russell next year.Still, there was a lot of support for Bob to get the seat for this season, now next year we get to see what he brings.
HighwayStar said:
I'd have preferred Ocon as well but... I'm guessing, Williams being fiercely independent, they didn't want 2 Mercedes drivers in their car. Everyone would be saying they were just Mercs junior team and would likely beholden to any and all requests during a race.
Still, there was a lot of support for Bob to get the seat for this season, now next year we get to see what he brings.
I have heard it said more than once that Williams likes multi-year contracts (or at least options) on drivers, something Ocon (or Mercedes) were unwllling to commit to.Still, there was a lot of support for Bob to get the seat for this season, now next year we get to see what he brings.
skwdenyer said:
I have heard it said more than once that Williams likes multi-year contracts (or at least options) on drivers, something Ocon (or Mercedes) were unwllling to commit to.
I believe both they and Ocon and Toto all mentioned those being issues with Ocon - certainly on Sky F1 as they don't want to "help" a driver then they leave.. Been there before...What an amazing comeback for Kubica.
Just a shame its at Williams, sadly I just can't see them turning a corner next year and it's hard to impress anyone when the car isn't quick enough to get out of q1.
I guess all he can do is beat his teammate. As much of a fan of his, I just can't help that think with his long time away and undeniable disability now, he can only be a shadow of his former self. I would rather he went too ferrari to be at test driver. Then again he is a pure racer at heart and so I'm not surprised at all by his decision.
Just a shame its at Williams, sadly I just can't see them turning a corner next year and it's hard to impress anyone when the car isn't quick enough to get out of q1.
I guess all he can do is beat his teammate. As much of a fan of his, I just can't help that think with his long time away and undeniable disability now, he can only be a shadow of his former self. I would rather he went too ferrari to be at test driver. Then again he is a pure racer at heart and so I'm not surprised at all by his decision.
sgtBerbatov said:
Car-Matt said:
I was reading on the BBC earlier that he cant grip the wheel with his left hand but relies on the friction generated by pushing his hand onto it..........
Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
I know from breaking my right elbow that I can't twist my arm the same way as I can twist my left (I am missing a few degrees rotation). Kubica had a lot worse happen to him, and IIRC it was a question of him not being able to rotate his arm properly without it fouling the cockpit wall. Makes you wonder why the other guys try to be at peak fitness and spend time with these grip exercises etc.
Barmy move by Williams IMO, they must be short on cash to have accepted what Robert brings with him.
He says himself it’s grip and he relies on friction of pushing his hand into the wheel rather than gripping it.
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