Kubica comeback to Formula 1 delayed

Formula One driver Robert Kubica has told the Lotus Renault GP team he will not be fit enough to start the 2012 season. Kubica has missed the whole of the 2011 season after being seriously injured in a rallying accident last winter.

The team had initially hoped the Polish driver would be fit enough to return to action this season but now he has had to delay that until after the start of next season.

That leaves the team with a choice of three drivers to fill its two seats next season – Vitaly Petrov, Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean – unless management at the Oxfordshire-based outfit look outside their current line-up.

Kubica will remain with the Enstone set-up and is currently engaged in talks over a possible deal for 2013.

Kubica, who finished the 2010 season eighth in the standings, said: “Even if I’ve been working very, very hard over the course of the last few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season.

“I have called the team and I have informed them of the situation. This was a difficult decision to make, but it is the most reasonable one.

“I also know that LRGP need to prepare for next year, and further extending deadlines would not have been the right thing to do.

“On a personal level, my recovery is still very encouraging and my doctors keep being impressed.”