F1
For Kubica, not having driven in F1 with Ferrari “remains an open wound”
"What if..." are very common when we talk about Robert Kubica... © Julien Delfosse / DPPI
Robert Kubica at Ferrari : a meeting that finally happens, a marriage that seems so obvious and yet it took a long time to come to fruition. If the Pole will have the chance to represent the Italian manufacturer in WEC this season, in the premier category ofEndurance in Hypercar, he could have, more than twelve years ago, already worn the red suit in Formula 1.
Remember: in the early 2010s, the winner of the 2008 Canadian GP – then a driver at Renault – is one of the most coveted drivers on the grid, and a team is interested in his case: Ferrari. The Scuderia even signed a pre-contract with the Pole, guaranteeing him a seat with the Reds in 2012. Destiny would decide otherwise: victim of a serious car accident. rally At the beginning of 2011, the man who was promised a great career in F1 saw his career cut short, and with it, his hopes of joining Maranello.
In 2024, Robert Kubica will be able to take a little revenge on life by driving the 499P of the AF Corse team, and will wear the Prancing Horse coat of arms for the first time. “Driving a Ferrari is something different than racing with other brands, the ex-F1 driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport. As an F1 driver, I had two goals: to win the world championship and to move to the Reds. This didn’t happen because life handed me another scenario. And I admit that it remains an open wound. Now this opportunity [to drive with Ferrari in Hypercar] is a big challenge. »
Kubica – Alonso: “We would have done great things together”
In 2012, Robert Kubica could have formed a shock duo alongside Fernando Alonso at Ferrari. Asked about this scenario which never happened, the Pole replied: “Me and Alonso at Ferrari? I have always respected Fernando and I still respect him. When we were racing in F1, the esteem was mutual. It is often said that for a driver, his teammate is the first opponent to beat. But I always thought that to win you had to beat everyone, including your teammate. Beating Fernando in the same car wouldn't have been difficult, and I would have enjoyed the challenge anyway. We think the same way on a lot of things and having two drivers who get along well in the garage is an advantage for a team. »
“Potentially we would have been a high-risk duoe, adds the reigning LM P2 champion in WEC. But I think we would have done great things together. That didn't happen, life gave me another scenario. But today, I am as happy with this new adventure at Le Mans with the red car as I was when I signed for Ferrari back then. »
Kubica wants to drive « a few more years"
Now thriving in his third career in Endurance, after F1 then rallying, Robert Kubica will aim for victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Yifei Ye and Robert Shwartzman. Twice second in the LM P2 category in 2022 and 2023, the new AF Corse Ferrari driver intends to find success in the premier category and continue his adventure as long as possible in the WEC.
“How long will I keep running?” I was lucky that my passion became my profession, he confides. Every year I still feel the same love for motorsport. At 39 years old, it’s running that drives me. Thinking about quitting and possibly finding myself in a work environment where I wouldn't feel good scares me. I am a driver, I want to race, I am happy where I am, that is why there is a chance that I will continue to race for a few more years. »
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Yves-Henri RANDIER
20/01/2024 at 04:01 a.m.
Too bad indeed for the friendly Pole who wanted to have fun in rallying... like other F1 drivers from the 60s/70s did in a much less safe context than in the XNUMXst century!