F1 News
Date: 26/November/2011
Lotus Renault F1 team manager Eric Boullier has attempted to clarify the situation regarding the return from injury of star driver Robert Kubica.
The pole has missed the entire 2011 season, after a rally accident in February left him with a partially amputated forearm, plus fractures to elbow, shoulder and leg.
Earlier this week the team issued a statement saying Kubica had informed the team that he will not be physically ready for the start of 2012 campaign.
The statement then added “Robert will remain a member of the LRGP family in 2012 and he is already, through his management, holding talks about renewing his contract for the following season.
“Although very disappointed by the news, Lotus Renault GP will start assessing its options and will evaluate the most suitable candidate to drive from the first 2012 winter testing session.”
While Kubica’s absence from the first race was clearly understood, some were confused as to whether Kubica had signed for 2012 or not - and whether he will miss all of next season or just the start.
On Friday at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Boullier stated: “We have a contract with Robert until the end of this year, terminating this year. This is why we are using our channel for the communication with him and we agree with his manager, Daniele Morelli, to issue a press release before this week, which was entirely approved by both parties before being released.
“The choice of the wording is my responsibility and I think the message was clear. We have waited for Robert. We would like Robert to be back. I think we are the first one who wish him well and he informed us that, unfortunately, he would not be able to be at the first test, which means he will not be able to start the season for me, so that’s it.
“I think the issue came up that some translation maybe was wrongly done in the far east of Europe and the message was really that he would not be able to be back in 2012 which is not the message at all. The message was clear. He will not be at the start of the season… but he may come back next year.”
However when asked if that scenario means that Renault will need to sign three drivers, rather than two, Boullier dismissed the idea: “Nothing like this.”
The comment that Kubica will “remain a member of the LRGP family in 2012” also seems to be less certain than it appeared. “I still have to sit down with Daniele Morelli to discuss or assess the situation for the future,” said Boullier.
Kubica’s injury marked the first of numerous setbacks for the former Benetton team, including performance troubles with the forward facing exhausts and a mid-season split from Kubica’s replacement Nick Heidfeld.
Renault starts the 2011 finale with Russian Vitaly Petrov ninth in the drivers’ standings, on 36 points. Renault has scored 72 points in the Constructors’ championship.
That compares with 136 points for Kubica (eighth in the championship) and 163 Constructors’ points for Renault during 2010.
“The results are not good and every time the season is not good enough there is some negativity,” confessed Boullier.
Slamming the teams on and off-track troubles this year, one reporter then asked the blunt question: Are you really convinced that you are the right person to do this job?
“I don’t know. You need to ask the people who employ me,” replied Boullier calmly.
Vitaly Petrov has a Renault contract in place for 2012, while present team-mate Bruno Senna and test driver Romain Grosjean are favourites for the second seat.
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