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Robert Kubica by Ann64-

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Robert Kubica

Robert Jozef Kubica is a Polish racing driver, currently serving as the Reserve Driver for Alfa Romeo. He was born on 7 December 1984 in Krakow, Poland.

He is the first Polish to participate in Formula 1, and for this, he has been credited for making the game popular in his country. He made his debut in 2006 and won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix.

Kubica has driven for BMW Suber, Renault, and Williams throughout his career. In 2011, he had a serious accident that interrupted his career for a while. Although he survived the wreck, his right arm was fatally injured, limiting its use.

He not only sat out during the entire season but also had to stay off course until full recovery. Kubica however did not completely rule out a return to Formula One.

In 2017, he did a test run with Renault at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. He then did more tests for Williams and became the team’s reserve driver for 2018.

Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Robert Kubica.

1. Kubica鈥檚 love for racing developed at a young age

Robert Kubica driving for BMW Sauber at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix-Mark McArdle.

To his parents, it was apparent that Kubica was fascinated by cars of all kinds by age 4. His father, Artur first bought him a small off-road vehicle which he spent long hours driving around in the yard.

As he grew older, his father bought him a go-kart. Kubica went on to participate in the Polish Karting Championship, winning 6 titles in three years.

In 1998, he won the International Italian Junior Karting Championship, becoming the first foreigner to do so. In 2000, he scored 4^th place in the European and World Championships. It was his last season in karting.

2. His professional racing career kicked off in 2000

In 2000, he began his professing racing career as a test driver for a Formula Renault 2000 car. He scored his maiden pole position during his first season. In 2002, he won four races and scored second place in the Italian Formula Renault 2000.

Kubica then moved to Formula 3 Euro Series. He, unfortunately, had a road accident before his debut at Norisring. Driving with a place brace and titanium bolts in his arm, he won the race. He ended his first season at position 12 and was in position 7 in his second season.

In 2005, he won the World Series by Renault championship with the Epsilon Euskadi team. This earned him Formula One tests with Renault.

3. He was the first Polish racing driver to participate in Formula One

Robert Kubica 2010-Morio.

Kubica became the official reserve driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team in 2006. His results in the test sessions were impressive, and there was speculation that he would become Poland鈥檚 first ever Formula One racing driver the following year.

As fate would have it, his teammate Jacques Villeneuve was deemed unfit to race after an accident during the German Grand Prix.

Kubica replaced him and at the Hungarian Grand Prix, he raced as the first Polish racing driver in Formula One. He finished 7^th but was disqualified for having an underweight car.                                                                                

4. Kubica won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix

Robert Kubica-Mark McArdle.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Kubica鈥檚 position in the team was confirmed, following Villeneuve’s departure. Kubica went on to race at the Turkish Grand Prix, finishing in a disappointing 12^th place.

His third race was the Italian Grand Prix in which he finished third. He became the first Polish driver to appear on a Formula One podium and lead a Grand Prix.

 It was during the first half of the 2008 Formula One season that he achieved his first Formula One victory. This was at the Canadian Grand Prix, the 7^th race of the season.

The win gave him the lead in the Driver鈥檚 Championship, overtaking Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, and Massa.

5. He has worked with BMW, Renault, and Williams

Robert Kubica driving for BMW Sauber at the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix-Mark McArdle.

Kubica kicked off his Formula One career in 2006 as a reserve driver for the BMW Sauber Formula 1 team. He raced for BMW through the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons.

It was during the 2008 season that he won his first Formula One victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. On 29 July 2009, BMW announced their departure from Formula One, making Kubica a free agent for the 2010 season.

Kubica signed for Renault F1 for the 2010 season and later extended the contract to 2012. However, a serious car accident in 2011 rendered him unable to race, although he did not overrule his return to the sport.

In 2018, he became the reserve driver for Williams. He later joined Alfa Romeo Racing (previously BMW Sauber) as a reserve driver for the 2020 season.

6. He was severely injured in a 2011 car crash

During the first stage of the Ronde di Andora Rally on 6 February 2011, Kubica had a near-fatal crash. His car swerved off the road and hit a crash barrier at high speed. He was trapped inside for an hour before he could be extracted.

He was then flown to Santa Corona hospital near Savona where he underwent a 7-hour operation. His injuries were severe, including partial amputation of his forearm, loss of blood, and compound fractures on his right elbow, shoulder, and leg.

The condition of his right hand rendered him unfit to race for the 2011 season. His former BMW Sauber teammate, Nick Heidfeld was signed by Renault as his replacement for the season.

7. Kubica participated in minor rallies while recuperating

Robert Kubica 2014-Stefan Brending.

He was released from the hospital on 24 April 2011 to begin his rehabilitation. He had to keep off from competitive racing for 2011 and most of 2012. He participated in the Ronde Gomitolo Di Lana rally on 9 September and won.

Kubica focused on rallying in 2013, his first event being the Rally de Portugal, finishing 6^th.  He won at the 2013 Acropolis Rally, the 6^th round of the 2013 World Rally Championship season. He also won at the Rally d鈥橧talia, 4 minutes ahead of Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari.

Kubica took part in several other rallies before signing with the LMP1 team in the FIA World World Endurance Championship in 2017. He did not participate in the season.

8. He served as a reserve driver for Williams in 2018

Robert Kubica ta the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix-Liauzh.

In January 2018, Kubica became the reserve driver of Williams for the 2018 season. He participated in the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix, outperforming his teammate Lance Stroll.

Williams announced that Kubica would race full-time for the team in 2019. He finished 12^th place at the German Grand Prix but was however promoted to 10^th place following penalties for Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.

He scored his first point since his return to Formula 1 and broke the record of the longest time between successive points finishes.

He left the team after ending a difficult 2019 season and was replaced by 2019 F2 runner-up Nicholas Latifi.

9. He is currently a reserve and test driver for Alfa Romeo

For the 2020 season, Kubica joined Alfa Romeo Racing (previously known as BMW Sauber). This was the team he made his Formula One debut in 2006. He took up the reserve driver role.

He competed at the pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, setting the fastest lap time during the 4^th day of testing.

Kubica replaced Kimi Raikkonen when he tested positive for Covid-19 on the weekend of the Dutch Grand Prix. He qualified 18^th and finished the race in 15^th.  For 2022, he remained a reserve and test driver.

10. Kubica has won several awards

Robert Kubica has shown outstanding racing ability throughout his career. Besides his race victories, he has won several awards.

These include the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in 2008, which is awarded for 鈥榓 commendable performance in motorsport鈥�. 

It is an annual award in Formula One motor racing. He won the Polish Sports-personality of the Year and FIA Personality of the Year Award in 2013.