Renault Line-Up for 2012??

[Fire99]

So the Renault chief is keen to get Kubica back for next season, what do you predict for next years's line-up?

Kubica and Senna or do you think Senna will be back down to No3 and the Kubica / Petrov line-up will return?

Does Petrov bring significant money into the team?

[A911DOM]

Interesting question - who brings more money and sponsorship - Petrov or Senna!?

Thats who will be in the 2nd seat (assuming Kubica isnt snapped up by a bigger team).

[Likes Fast Cars]

You can't believe a word Boullier says, surely they'll go for whoever brings the most money which means Kubica may not get his seat back.
They may as well put all of the names into a barrel and pull one out.

[rubystone]

It'll not be named Renault next year. Petrov brings a chunk of (Russian) money and Senna has an association with Embratel (and other Brazilian companies) that puts some money on the car too. Gravity run D'Ambrosio and are keen to promote him, but I think money will be a barrier. So I'd be confident that Kubica won't make the grade and the 2012 driver line-up will remain the same.

[MrKipling43]

My (outside) bet on this is that Kubica won't return in 2012 and will join Alonso in a Fandango in 2013.

If Kubica does come back in 2012 I suspect that, sadly, it will be Senna that makes way. Perhaps Bruno will end up in a red car?

[skinny]

what, the virgin?

[Likes Fast Cars]

skinny said:

what, the virgin?

[onyx39]

Surely Kubica is pretty much an unknown quantity now? Yes, he's WAS fast, but no one knows how quick he will when (and if) he returns. Would you risk having him as a driver in a top team?

[DiscoColin]

After the post accident drop off in Massa's form, I reckon that it would take a brave manager to put Kubica back in the car unless he is appreciably quicker in pre-season testing (which he likely will be, but if only similar I fear he is done in F1 and sponsorship deals will pick the drivers).

[EDLT]

onyx39 said:

Surely Kubica is pretty much an unknown quantity now? Yes, he's WAS fast, but no one knows how quick he will when (and if) he returns. Would you risk having him as a driver in a top team?

Ferrari were fine with Massa coming back. Its not like Kubica will jump in to the car for the first time on the Friday before the race, if his recovery stays on track he will be able to do most of the winter testing. Another poster mentioned how much money Petrov and Senna bring along, that will be a bigger hurdle.

[H100S]

DiscoColin said:

After the post accident drop off in Massa's form, I reckon that it would take a brave manager to put Kubica back in the car unless he is appreciably quicker in pre-season testing (which he likely will be, but if only similar I fear he is done in F1 and sponsorship deals will pick the drivers).

Kubica had a big accident in Canada and was still very quick upon his return. I know this one was much worse but i get the feeling that he is made of touger stuff than Massa.

Reality is I struggle to imagine Kubica back competing in a F1 car although I really hope he does.

[skinny]

onyx39 said:

Surely Kubica is pretty much an unknown quantity now? Yes, he's WAS fast, but no one knows how quick he will when (and if) he returns. Would you risk having him as a driver in a top team?

renault are not a top team - if he's fit enough to drive an F1 car, then he'll be better than either petrov, senna, or grosjean. depending on how desperate boullier is for short term cash over a long term investment, i'd say kubica is worth taking. he has had massive accidents before - and he's come back as strong each time. the only question is on the physical side.

[freedman]

skinny said:

renault are not a top team - if he's fit enough to drive an F1 car, then he'll be better than either petrov, senna, or grosjean. depending on how desperate boullier is for short term cash over a long term investment, i'd say kubica is worth taking. he has had massive accidents before - and he's come back as strong each time. the only question is on the physical side.

He's never almost had his hand severed from his body though, has he

He has proven he has the mental strength to overcoma major accidents, this tiem its all about his phsical recovery

[rubystone]

freedman said:

He's never almost had his hand severed from his body though, has he

He has proven he has the mental strength to overcoma major accidents, this tiem its all about his phsical recovery

Spot on. For starters, let's look at how easy would it be for him to evacuate the car - that has to be done within a certain number of seconds doesn't it? And isn't that a test that has to be passed before he even steps into an F1 car? So yes, plenty of work building his strength and mobility up alongside simulator work, but I just cannot see him being in a position to compete in 2012.

Whether Boullier wants to take a risk or not, that's Lopez's/Lux's call, surely?

[SeeFive]

I think it is a big ask, but the team around him seem to have some confidence.

---

Both the manager of Robert Kubica and Renault team doctor have stressed their optimism over Robert Kubica returning to Formula 1 for the 2012 season. At present, following his near-fatal rallying accident of 6 February, the Pole remains in the Enstone team’s driver line-up alongside Vitaly Petrov.

“We are not able to predict a precise date,” Daniele Morelli, manager for Kubica, explained to Italy’s OmniCorse. “Nature must take its course, but we are optimistic - very optimistic.”

The confidence is shared by the aforementioned Renault team doctor.

“I would say that Robert will certainly be an F1 driver for the 2012 season,” Ceccarelli comments. “I cannot say when he will make his return (for testing), but its still going to be some point between the months of November and January.”

Ceccarelli adds that the 26-year-old from Kraków – who was recently pictured with family members, appearing notably fitter – has now regained full sensitivity in his fingertips, with his right hand having been partially severed in the accident.

Source: From 29th September...
http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-drivers/579/robert-k...

Edit: bloody formatting.

[TheArchitect]

Didnt Kubica nearly sever his hand in a road car crash when he was younger? if so he has done it before!

I dont think he will be back tbh, i think he will in 2013 as the second ferrari driver when the regs change etc. I would like to see Glock etc alongside Senna. Whilst Petrov obviously has pace but hasnt ever really produced any magic, Senna imo is still unknown in F1.