MOTORSPORT: F1 driver's career in doubt after crash

Robert Kubica's crash in a rally in Italy has raised questions about how the Renault F1 team allowed him to participate in such an event amid testing of its new car for the grand prix world championship season

Polish ace may keep hand but out at least a year
The career of one of Formula One's most outstanding talents, Polish driver Robert Kubica, is in jeopardy after a crash in a minor car rally in Italy.

Kubica underwent seven hours of surgery on the multiple fractures to his right arm and leg, although early fears that his hand may have to be amputated have eased.

Kubica crashed his Super 2000 Skoda Fabia less than 5km into the Ronde di Andora event near Genoa.

A barrier pierced the right hand side of the car, perhaps through the footwell.

The 26-year-old -- winner of the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix and fastest in F1 testing at Valencia in Spain last week in his new Renault -- is unlikely to race in a grand prix this season, which starts in Bahrain in five weeks.

Three more pre-season tests are scheduled, the first of them at the end of this week.

Speculation is running hot about a replacement for Kubica in the Renault team, now largely owned by investment group Genii and also backed by the Proton-owned Lotus marque.

Two Germans -- veteran Nick Heidfeld and youngster Nico Hulkenberg -- appear to be the frontrunners, although Brazilian Bruno Senna is the team's nominated reserve driver.

Renault's other race driver is Russian Vitaly Petrov, who will be entering only his second season.

Like Petrov, Senna has only one year's F1 experience, with Hispania Racing Team, while Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who started seven races for Renault in 2009, is another reserve in the Regis stable.

The talented Heidfeld, who found himself without a race drive this year, has been around F1 longer than Australia's Mark Webber, yet somehow has never won a GP, despite an outstanding finishing record.

The highly rated Hulkenberg amazingly lost his Williams drive after his debut season last year to a Venezuelan rookie Pastor Maldonado, who brought massive sponsorship to the team.

Hulkenberg is the Force India team's reserve driver at the minute, but -- under the supervision of Michael Schumacher's long-time manager Willi Webber -- is likely to have an "out" clause in the event he receives an offer of a race drive elsewhere.

Kubica's accident has raised questions about the wisdom of an F1 team, especially one that has won world titles and has serious aspirations about returning to those heights soon, allowing a driver to take part in a rally, particularly between the first and second F1 pre-season tests.

Renault team principal Eric Boullier defended it, "because rallying is in his (Kubica's) heart".

"Rally driving is vital for Robert and his state of mind ... we know the risks and so does he," Boullier said. "We don't want a robot or corporate driver. Robert is a person we love dearly -- we are extremely sad and obviously shocked.

"Whether it's a Lotus, a Renault or a Skoda, it doesn't make any difference. We've let him do it because rallying is what he loves to do. Rallying is vital for Robert and for his sanity. Besides that, there is a reciprocal agreement. We knew the risks and so did he."

While last year's Renault did not allow Kubica to be among the five contenders for the world title for most of the season, his performances have consistently earned him accolades as among the most talented of drivers in an era of enormous depth in F1.

Poland's first F1 driver, he survived a massive crash while driving a BMW-Sauber in Montreal in 2007, only to return there a year later and win the Canadian GP.

Italy's ANSA news agency reported that the Skoda he crashed yesterday had been taken in by police for checks, while a wet asphalt road that had tree roots sticking out was the most likely cause of the crash. Co-driver Jakub Gerber emerged unhurt but Kubica was trapped in the car for an hour.

"We were on the first four kilometres of the first special stage," Gerber said. "I was looking at the (pace) notes and didn't notice that the car was skidding. Only when we crashed I saw Robert holding his arm, and after a few moments he lost consciousness. Robert isn't just a great driver, he is a friend. I just hope he can recover soon."

When finally extracted, Kubica was flown by helicopter to the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure, where Spanish dual world champion and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso showed up to speak to doctors, although it was unknown if he got to see his close friend Kubica.

Dr Igor Rossello, a hand specialist, said it would take several days to assess the success of the surgery but warned that Kubica would need up to a year to recover.

"We need to wait for a week at least to verify whether the hand survives," Dr Rossello was quoted saying by Italian media.

"The nerve lesions are the ones that leave us with the most question marks over the recovery of functions. Rehabilitation will be relatively long. He came here with multiple traumas, with several associated injuries. He won't necessarily have to undergo further surgery on the hand, but he will if needed."

Dr Rossello admitted that motor racing competitors often recovered from injury far quicker than forecast. Asked for a timeframe on Kubica, he said: "One year is the best provision."

"I think it is quite difficult now, but you never know. Drivers are always very special patients. I have a lot of motorbike patients and they heal in a much faster way -- faster than normal people."

Kubica already has titanium bolts in one arm after a road accident in 2003 in which he was a passenger.

"Robert is very strong and he will do it (pull through well)," his manager Daniele Morelli said.


Williams will be on stock market before season
The Williams F1 team has pressed the button promptly on its plan for a stock market float.

It was confirmed at the weekend that almost 27.4 per cent of the company will be offered to investors between this Wednesday and February 28. The shares are expected to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on March 2.

It is ironic that such an iconic British team's float will be on a German exchange after the falling out between Williams and BMW last decade. Sir Frank Williams will remain the majority and controlling shareholder in the team. The wheelchair-bound Williams, now in his late 60s, has been at pains to stress that the float is about securing the long-term future of the team, rather than a quick cash boost.

"For some years I have been considering how to secure the long-term ownership of Williams such that it will remain true to the aims with which Patrick [Head] and I established the team back in 1977," Williams said.

"My goal then was to race in F1 as an independent constructor. This was and is my great passion and I will race for as long as I continue to be blessed with good health. It is also my desire that the team is in good shape to go on racing long after I am gone.

"To that end, it is prudent and necessary to plan for an ownership structure that will enable Williams to be an independent constructor, owned and staffed by people committed to F1 and to the sound business practices which have supported us over three decades.

"I have concluded that the option which will best achieve this is to broaden our shareholder base with public shareholders, while having a stable core of long-term investors closely involved in the running of the team. This will ensure stability, good governance and will, I believe, enable us to attract and retain the best people and partners."

The Williams approach contrasts with that of V8 Supercars Australia, which appears to be on a course to solicit bids for up to 51 per cent of itself -- the 25 per cent owned by Sports and Entertainment Ltd, and represented by V8SA chairman Tony Cochrane, and a collective 26 per cent from the V8 Supercar teams, leaving them with 49 per cent.

The danger in taking in a majority shareholder, especially if it were to be a private equity fund, is that the teams could find themselves at some point in the future having lost control of their destiny.

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