Robert Kubica

2006

Kubica driving the BMW Sauber F1.06 during Pre-Season testing in Barcelona.

In 2006 Kubica became the official third/test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team. His results in both Friday testing and private test sessions, along with the words of BMW Sauber’s manager Mario Theissen, led to speculation that he would become Poland’s first ever Formula One racing driver in 2007. In August 2006, Kubica’s teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, complained about headaches after his accident during the 2006 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim; he was deemed unfit to race by the team, against his own belief, and Kubica was chosen by the team management to replace him at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. Kubica qualified ninth, beating his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld. In the race, he finished in seventh place, but was disqualified after the race for having an underweight car. Villeneuve decided to leave the BMW Sauber team soon after the race, and it looked certain that Kubica would stay on as Heidfeld’s teammate until the end of the season and he might also drive for the team next year. This was confirmed after a BMW spokesperson told reporters that: “Robert Kubica will drive in the remaining races of the season. That is our current plan.”
Kubica as BMW Sauber’s third driver at the 2006 United States Grand Prix.

Kubica had a more disappointing race in Turkey, finishing in 12th place after a mistake in tyre choice. Heidfeld, who was delayed in a first-corner accident, placed behind Kubica.

In his third race, the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Kubica finished in third position, and became the first Polish driver to appear on a Formula One podium, as well as the first Polish driver to lead a Grand Prix. He is one of only two drivers in the last decade to finish on the podium within his first three Formula One starts, the other being Lewis Hamilton (Australia 2007).

In Kubica’s fourth race, the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, he finished 13th, again after a mistake in tyre choice. After going off track at the first turn of the race, he moved from 17th position to fifth, before pitting. He was the first to change from intermediate tyres to dry tyres after the wet track started to dry. This decision was made too early: a very slow next lap in extremely wet and slippery conditions and another pit stop to change back to intermediates cost him his place in the points.

2007

Kubica performed well during the 2007 season, finishing consistently in point scoring positions. At the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix Kubica had a serious crash approaching the hairpin on lap 27 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, in which his car became airborne and crashed after contact with Jarno Trulli’s Toyota and hit a hump in the grass, lifting the car’s nose into the air and leaving him unable to brake or steer. The speed measured when his car clipped the barrier was 300.13 km/h (186.49 mph), at a 75 degree angle, subjecting Kubica to an average deceleration of 28g. After data from the on board accident data recorder had been analyzed it was found that he had been subjected to a peak G-force of 75 G. The car then rolled as it came back across the track, striking the wall on the outside of the hairpin and coming to rest on its side. Under safety car conditions, Kubica was removed from the car and taken to the circuit’s medical center, where he was announced to be “stable”, although no information regarding potential injuries was known at this time. Shortly afterwords, his manager Daniele Morelli said Kubica was conscious and talking. It was initially reported that Kubica could have a broken leg. However, Mario Theissen later confirmed that he was not seriously injured.

Further reports from late evening on race day, directly from the hospital, confirmed that Kubica had suffered a light concussion alongside a sprained ankle. After being kept in overnight for observation, Kubica left hospital the following day. On June 14 it was announced that as a precaution Kubica would not race at Indianapolis and would be replaced by test driver Sebastian Vettel. After missing Indianapolis, he returned for the French Grand Prix where he qualified and finished in fourth place, receiving ITV broadcaster Martin Brundle’s driver of the day award. He then went on to finish fourth again at the British Grand Prix.

2008

Kubica’s retention as race driver for 2008 was confirmed on August 21, 2007. Kubica qualified second on the grid at the opening race of the 2008 season, the Australian Grand Prix, behind Lewis Hamilton. He retired from the race after a collision with Kazuki Nakajima.
In the Malaysian Grand Prix, Kubica finished second.

On April 5, 2008 at the 2008 Bahrain Grand Prix, Kubica scored his first pole position of his Formula One career (also first pole for his team), narrowly beating Felipe Massa. He finished the race in third.

On May 25, 2008 at the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, Kubica finished second, after starting 5th on the grid.

On June 8, 2008 at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, Kubica achieved his first ever victory after starting in 2nd, putting him in the Championship lead. Kubica effectively won the race in the pit lane, first passing race leader Lewis Hamilton after the BMW pit crew completed a faster pitstop. Kubica and Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari duly halted at the pit lane exit, waiting for the red pit exit light to change. However, Lewis Hamilton, running immediately behind them, missed the light and crashed into Räikkönen’s Ferrari, eliminating both cars from the race. Kubica rejoined the race well positioned for the eventual victory.

Nick Heidfeld in the other BMW Sauber, running a one stop fuel strategy, briefly positioned himself in front of Kubica after a pit stop, but running a much heavier car, was overtaken by his lighter team-mate. Heidfeld then kept a charging Fernando Alonso at bay. The strategy of BMW Sauber required one more pit stop for Kubica. To beat Heidfield, Kubica needed to gain at least 24 seconds on his team-mate over 22 laps, and after the last pit stop he emerged just a second ahead of Heidfeld. Kubica’s victory was never challenged for the remainder of the race, with BMW taking first and second. The win was significant not only for being Kubica’s first, but also for being achieved at the same circuit where he had suffered an enormous crash the previous year.

Kubica later joked that he should thank Hamilton for electing to crash into Räikkönen instead of him.

At the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, Kubica finished 5th, reporting that this was a lost race, complaining about aerodynamic problems with the car.

Kubica has been confirmed as staying with BMW Sauber for the 2009 season.

At the Japanese Grand Prix Kubica qualified sixth. At the start several drivers braked too late for the first corner. Kubica took an inside line overtaking several cars and emerged in the lead. He led for 16 laps, but lost his lead to Fernando Alonso at the first round of pit stops. Kubica finished second after defending his position towards the end of the race against Räikkönen in a faster Ferrari (his fastest race lap was 0.6 seconds quicker than the Pole’s)

Season	Series	Team	Races	Poles	Wins	Points	Place
2006	Formula 1	BMW Sauber	6	0	0	6	16th
2007	Formula 1	BMW Sauber	16	0	0	39	6th
2008	Formula 1	BMW Sauber	18	1	1	75	4th