Kubica back in an F1 car

Kubica back in an F1 car

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Cold

Original Poster:

15,207 posts

89 months

Tuesday 6th June 2017
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Robert Kubica has driven 115 laps in a 2012 Renault at Ricardo on Tuesday. thumbup

BBC link

skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Tuesday 6th June 2017
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Thats a lot of laps and hints at more than just a bit of fun. Would love to see him back as I'm a massive fan - but as well as the injuries, 4 years out of F1 makes it a massive task.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 6th June 2017
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[quote=skinny]Thats a lot of laps and hints at more than just a bit of fun. Would love to see him back as I'm a massive fan - but as well as the injuries, 4 years out of F1 makes it a massive task. [/quote

Still feel he could have been a World Champion.

Real shame the "fun" outing in a rally car cost him his F1 future.

Unfortunately I just can't see him ever returning to F1 which is a loss to all fan's.

bunglesprout

562 posts

90 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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Wouldn't it be great to see him back full time? He's only 32 so could have a good few years in F1 if fitness allows. When I first saw he was driving, I assumed it would just be a few laps, but over 100 laps, with high fuel long runs, low fuel qualifying runs, pit stop simulations? Sounds a bit more serious than that. Would be nice to see him getting a Friday outing. Now, who would you replace, Hulkenberg or Palmer.....? hehe

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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bunglesprout said:
Wouldn't it be great to see him back full time? He's only 32 so could have a good few years in F1 if fitness allows. When I first saw he was driving, I assumed it would just be a few laps, but over 100 laps, with high fuel long runs, low fuel qualifying runs, pit stop simulations? Sounds a bit more serious than that. Would be nice to see him getting a Friday outing. Now, who would you replace, Hulkenberg or Palmer.....? hehe
Massive PR coup if they did replace Palmer with him for the remainder of 2017 and what have they got to lose?

Dr Murdoch

3,427 posts

134 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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ELUSIVEJIM]kinny said:
4 years out of F1 makes it a massive task. [/quote
Any more or less of a task than someone with no F1 experience?

thegreenhell

15,115 posts

218 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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skinny said:
Thats a lot of laps and hints at more than just a bit of fun. Would love to see him back as I'm a massive fan - but as well as the injuries, 4 years out of F1 makes it a massive task.
His accident was in 2011, so it's been six and a half years since he last competed in F1. However, he's still only 32, he obviously still has the hunger, and he was very highly rated before his accident, so If he can overcome the physical side and show that he still has the speed then I'm certain he'll be on some teams' shopping lists. Renault would be the most obvious, to replace Palmer, but he also reportedly had a Ferrari contract signed in advance of his accident, so how about an outside bet as a future Kimi replacement?

Altrezia

8,517 posts

210 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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Would love to see him back, but it's unlikely.

Always seemed like a nice bloke and was always fast!

DanielSan

18,748 posts

166 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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If he tests a hybrid or just newer car aswell in the same way I'd say that there's a serious level of intent to doing this. 115 laps and simulation runs definitely isn't just for fun.

Munter

31,319 posts

240 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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DanielSan said:
If he tests a hybrid or just newer car aswell in the same way I'd say that there's a serious level of intent to doing this. 115 laps and simulation runs definitely isn't just for fun.
Apparently they gave him runs in an F3 and Formula-E cars previous to this test, to see if he could still work in the confines of the cockpit. Which to me adds more weight to this being a serious assessment of Kubica returning. It's got to be a program being worked through with an outcome other than "a bit of publicity".

ukaskew

10,642 posts

220 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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I'm sure he's mentioned that any circuit where significant steering input (i.e. near maximum rotation) is needed is a definite no-no. Presumably Monaco and Singapore would be on that list.

CraigyMc

16,327 posts

235 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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It was a one-off.
The team were in Valencia to give Sergey Sirotkin a run - Kubica was given the chance of a day in the car purely because everything was there anyway.

Dal3D

1,174 posts

150 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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CraigyMc said:
It was a one-off.
The team were in Valencia to give Sergey Sirotkin a run - Kubica was given the chance of a day in the car purely because everything was there anyway.
You could be forgiven for thinking that if it was 10-20 laps to "remember the old times" but 115 laps?

CraigyMc

16,327 posts

235 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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Dal3D said:
CraigyMc said:
It was a one-off.
The team were in Valencia to give Sergey Sirotkin a run - Kubica was given the chance of a day in the car purely because everything was there anyway.
You could be forgiven for thinking that if it was 10-20 laps to "remember the old times" but 115 laps?
Yes. If you're going to test, test.

Alan Permane said:
He is more mellow and he wasn’t as pushy when asking for every detail about the set-up of the car," he said. "His comments and feedback, however, were like turning the clock back for all of us. It is a tricky thing to jump into an F1 car after six years and it was a great performance from him. This was a one-off event for Robert. His time with Renault was cut short so abruptly and we perceived such a nice future with him. The team was in Valencia testing with Sergey Sirotkin, so it was the perfect opportunity to offer Robert a day in the car and contribute in our way to his recovery."

FourWheelDrift

88,382 posts

283 months

Wednesday 7th June 2017
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Kubica has also tested a GP3, Formula E and LMP2 car. He's just seeing what he can do with the limitations he has.

KevinCamaroSS

11,555 posts

279 months

Thursday 8th June 2017
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I can see him going to Endurance Racing, I doubt he will ever have enough movement in the arm to be fully competitive in F1

The Moose

22,821 posts

208 months

Thursday 8th June 2017
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Would he be able to get out of the cockpit quick enough to pass the tests with his lack of mobility?

rallycross

12,747 posts

236 months

Thursday 8th June 2017
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The Moose said:
Would he be able to get out of the cockpit quick enough to pass the tests with his lack of mobility?
I think so, its just limited movement in one lower arm/elbow and wrist limits what you need in a modern F1 car. Jumping out would not be the problem.

CraigyMc

16,327 posts

235 months

Friday 9th June 2017
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rallycross said:
The Moose said:
Would he be able to get out of the cockpit quick enough to pass the tests with his lack of mobility?
I think so, its just limited movement in one lower arm/elbow and wrist limits what you need in a modern F1 car. Jumping out would not be the problem.
I question that.

To get out of a modern F1 car quickly, after undoing the harness and chucking the steering wheel out, the drivers first put their elbows on the sides of the cockpit opening and then lift their body weight up with their arms. Robert cannot do this. He's got no mobility in his right elbow - it's fixed at the angle you see it in.

Five seconds isn't a lot of time.


entropy

5,403 posts

202 months

Friday 9th June 2017
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KevinCamaroSS said:
I can see him going to Endurance Racing, I doubt he will ever have enough movement in the arm to be fully competitive in F1
He had a drive with the LMP1 ByKolles team this year but quit just before the season started. You must be pretty desperate if you drive for Colin Kolles.