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Kubica: A talent we may never fully know
The first time I heard of Robert Kubica was his debut for BMW at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix when my following of F1 wasn't as intense or personal as it is today. It was a race famous for Jenson Button's first win. I remember that, like most drivers that day, he had a spin damaging his front wing. His drive to seventh didn't exactly catch my eye but I remember he was disqualified post race for an underweight car.
He went on to keep his drive for the rest of 2006, scoring his first podium in Monza that year. In 2007, teammate Nick Heidfeld just about had the measure of him. He survived a big crash at the Canadian Grand Prix. That accident put him out of the US GP but he returned for the French GP, missing just one race as a result.
In 2008, he found himself in a half decent car. It was then I believe that the world realised how good he was. Frequently on a Monday morning, I found myself discussing another great performance from the Pole. He took his first win in Canada that year and the lead of the Drivers' Championship. From then on, BMW focussed on their 2009 car rather than going for the championship. It's worth a bet that had they focussed on winning, Lewis Hamilton may not have been champion.
The 2009 season was a struggle as BMW produced a pretty poor car. Kubica shone in Spa and took 2nd in Brazil. In 2010 he moved to Renault. The Renault car proved to be a raceable car and Kubica always got the best out of it.
In Monaco, Kubica was always on it. In 2007 he beat Heidfeld there and in 2008 he beat Massa, the fastest car around the principality, to take second. In 2010 he secured a front row grid slot and finished third, hustling the faster Red Bull of Vettel all the way to the flag. Spa is another track where he exudes pace. In 2009 he was well in the fight for the podium and in 2010 he put in a lap for third on the grid. That lap is what he spoke to Eric Boullier about in his recovery process.
Rather than there being one defining race for Kubica, I feel there are several moments that sum him up. In his first race after his Montreal crash, he was flat through the second high speed chicane at Magny Cours. In 2008 his third places in Valencia and Monza were superb drives in an underdeveloped car. In 2010, he was always one handed in Eau Rouge thanks to the F-duct.
The moment I remember well is Korea 2010. In one of the practices sessions he ran wide coming onto the pit straight and stayed flat-out just about keeping his car pointing to turn 1.
Get Well Soon Robert.
We all miss you.
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Also known as Mister Disaster... bad karma or jinx prone