Renualt's Alain Prost is hoping that Robert Kubica can make a full-time return to Formula 1 after the Polish driver has done everything that he possibly can to make a comeback to the sport. Kubica previously drove for Renault in 2010 and was scheduled to drive for the Enstone-outfit in 2011, however, a severe rally accident in Italy prior to the start of the season prevented this, with his right arm being partially severed.
Kubica got behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in six years in June, where he drove the Lotus E20 of the 2012 Season at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain. The Pole then made a public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed driving the E20, followed by a second test at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France to do extensive testing to see if a return to F1 could happen.
Kubica got behind the wheel of a current spec F1 car in Hungary on Wednesday, testing Renault's R.S.17 that is currently driven by Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer in the 2017 Season.
While refusing to draw too many conclusions from Kubica's test, Prost remains upbeat and hopes to see the driver return to grand prix racing. “What you could read in the press coming from Cyril Abiteboul is correct. As soon as you start a plan, especially for him, he has to go to the maximum,” he told Crash.net. "He’s testing with a current car, with a track where you have a reference. We’ll see. I don’t think you can say anything more before the end of the test. It was a good story. He has recovered, for sure. I wish that he can come back to Formula 1 if possible.”
When Prost was asked if Kubica could be in contention to take the second seat at Renault in 2018 to partner Nico Hulkenberg, the four time champion avoided an answer: "I don’t want to make any comments. We’ve said that we have a decision for F1 next year, not next week. I cannot comment much more about it.”
Chris Soulsby
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