Robert Kubica, was almost given a dream Ferrari seat in 2012. The Polish star was regarded as one of the most promising talents in F1. However, he never made it to the Italian outfit’s Formula 1 division, as tragedy struck his life just months before his debut.
Born in Kraków, Poland, Kubica first appeared in F1 with BMW Sauber in 2007, debuting in the Hungarian GP to replace Jacques Villeneuve. In his third race with the team, he scored his first podium and became the first Polish to be on the Formula 1 podium. He delivered strong performances and won his first race in Canada in 2008.
He moved to Renault in 2010 and was set to continue with the team in the 2011 season as well. However, weeks before the season started, Kubica suffered a horrible crash in the Ronde di Andora rally in Italy. The right side of his body was critical, with multiple fractures, which made it impossible for him to continue in F1 that season. Renault (rebranded to Lotus by the time) signed Kimi Raikkonen for the 2012 season.
Robert Kubica never had a fulfilling career in the sport. Earlier in 2018, when he returned with Williams, he revealed that he had signed a contract with Scuderia Ferrari for the 2012 season. However, he wasn’t fit enough to drive that year, and he never got the chance to race in Scuderia Red colors.
On the Beyond the Grid podcast in 2018, Kubica agreed that he was set to race alongside Fernando Alonso that year. The Prancing Horse eventually went ahead with Brazilian driver Felipe Massa.
Robert Kubica reflects on racing with Ferrari AF Corse in the WEC
Kubica’s dream of racing for Ferrari did not entirely go away as the team gave him a chance in the World Endurance Championship to race for AF Corse. He races in the Hypercar category, piloting the Ferrari 499P.
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When he initially signed for the team, Kubica revealed that it was partly because of his dream to race for the team.
“Right now I don’t feel any difference wherever I’m sitting in the paddock,” he told Motor Sport. “But if you’d asked me two or three months ago if [the dream of driving for] Ferrari had influence on my decision, then I would say yes, definitely. “
He also revealed that ending his Scuderia partnership with F1 back after his crash in 2011 was not an easy fact to accept.
“There are a few reasons. The primary one is the one when I had my rally accident in 2011, I was signed as a Ferrari driver for future years. “And this thing has not been easy to digest for a very, very long period. On the other hand, it’s also difficult to say no – the history of this brand.”
Kubica is a competitive driver in the series. He won the race at the Circuit of The Americas. He finished the Qatar 1812km to kick off this season in the series and is currently placed third in the championship.
