Kubica is back in F1! But is it for real?

Seeing Robert Kubica back in a contemporary Formula 1 car in today’s Budapest testing was a genuinely heart-warming sight. And an amazing crowd on hand too, shouting his name all day long. The headline from today was one of trouble-free running, and lots of it. On a sizzling, 38C day, in Budapest, we were treated to a glimpse of what we’ve been denied since a decidedly chillier one on February 3, 2011 in Valencia. Kubica topped that test, but three days later suffered the rally crash that changed everything. So what was today all about? There are two schools of thought: One that it’s just a big PR stunt that Renault is acting out, knowing it can grab some favourable headlines in a less-than-stellar season as it rebuilds to a factory-strength team again. Even if this is the case, at least Robert has got to complete his circle with the team by giving his best in its car – just like he always did. Handshakes all around, fun while it lasted, etc. The other – the truly intriguing one – is that this was another step in the process of rebuilding Kubica as a serious F1 contender. Here’s a man who’s resisted the huge temptation to ever return to the F1 paddock since his horrible rally crash; but someone who’s been in constant touch with a colleague of mine inside the paddock who’s a long-time friend and confidante. Don’t think for a second that Robert’s desire to return to F1 was anything less than 100 percent, although it must’ve seemed a million miles away in his darkest hours. He’s been keeping close tabs on the whole sport all this time. At the heart of ‘Team Enstone’ there is a group of highly-respected engineers – Bob Bell, Nick Chester and Alan Permane – who have seen enough of the old Kubica in the ‘remodeled’ version to make this process worthwhile so far. The next question is, if the test was a surefire success on all fronts, where does this lead to? Today, Robert completed a race distance’s worth of running in the morning session alone. We can see from his times, which you can never read too much into, that he did a decent job. What we don’t know, and only Robert, the engineering team and their telemetry data truly do, is whether Kubica is fit to come back and race in F1. Are his arm limitations having a fundamental impact on his speed, either single-lap or long-run pace? Can he make all the switch changes on the steering wheel on demand? How is his body coping with these stresses? In a sport hugely intolerant of damaged goods, Kubica has more to prove than anyone. But if anyone deserves to get a break back into the big time, it’s him. And, pssst, between you and I, it was definitely not a PR stunt… – Charles Bradley, Editor in Chief [Hungary F1 test: Kubica fourth fastest as Norris challenges Vettel]( [Analysis: The day Kubica can change all perceptions]( [Ferrari could make Sauber its junior team]( [Toro Rosso-Honda 2018 talks progressing]( [Five things we learned from the Hungarian GP]( Do you want to receive this email in a different language? Please [click here]( to update your preferences Copyright © 2017 Motorsport.com, Inc., All rights reserved. Top news of the week Our mailing address is: Motorsport.com, Inc. 5972 NE 4th AvenueMiami, FL 33137 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [CHANGE PREFERENCES]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE]( © 2017 [MOTORSPORT NETWORK.]( All Rights Reserved.