Robert Kubica makes Renault shine

Robert Kubica, in 2009, had to wait until the penultimate race of the season to taste the joys of the podium, while BMW-Sauber had gone through the year without shining and the German manufacturer had announced its withdrawal from the F1. Passed at Renault, Robert Kubica returned to the podium in the second race of the year. It also allows Renault, after a very difficult 2009 season, to regain the spotlight thanks to its sporting results.

« This second place is a fantastic result after all the hard work we have put in this winter, comments the Pole. It was a difficult race in terms of strategy. I returned to the pits to switch from intermediate tires to slicks as soon as I saw Button's pace (first driver to wear slicks, editor's note). I managed to pass Massa in the pits and came out in front of Button. But it was my first lap on slick tires so I couldn't contain it. »

Like Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica did not need to return to his stand to change tires. “ I thought I would have to come back to the pits later but the team told me we didn?t need to if I could keep the tires until the end of the race. I tried to take care of it as much as possible. But it was far from simple because I had Hamilton then Massa behind me. But my tires held up and we managed to get this great result. »

Robert Kubica, on the podium in a Renault suit for the second race of the year, is happy that all the preparatory work is already bearing fruit. But he doesn't want to declare victory too soon. “ We worked so hard this winter? But we know that there is still a long way to go before we are truly competitive against the best teams. In any case, it?s a fantastic motivation for the whole team. »