Kubica: Missed F1 Ferrari opportunity still “an open wound”

Robert Kubica is looking forward to his top flight drive with Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship but acknowledged the lingering pain of his unfulfilled dream of racing for the legendary Italian manufacturer in Formula 1.

In 2011, Kubica was on the cusp of realizing his dream when he signed a pre-contract agreement to join Ferrari for the 2012 F1 season, partnering Fernando Alonso.

However, a devastating rally accident in February of that year left him with severe injuries that threatened his racing career.

Despite enduring numerous surgeries and years of rehabilitation, Kubica refused to give up on his passion for motorsport. In 2017, he received a medical clearance to return to racing and was signed by Williams as a reserve driver, eventually making a comeback as a full-time driver in 2018.

However, Kubica's comeback was far from easy. The Williams FW42 car was a dismal machine, and he struggled to match the pace of his teammates. After two seasons, he was let go by Williams and moved to Alfa Romeo as a third driver.

• Read also: Ferrari enters third WEC Hypercar for Kubica, Shwartzman, Ye

In 2021, the one-time Grand Prix winner got his chance to race again when he replaced Kimi Raikkonen for two Grand Prix due to the latter's COVID infection.

Although he didn't set the world alight, his performances were encouraging, and he continued to participate in practice sessions for Alfa Romeo in 2022.

In 2023, Kubica decided to pursue a new challenge and joined Team WRT in the WEC. He excelled in the LMP2 class, winning the championship title. This success opened doors for him, and he signed a deal to race for AF Corse in the Hypercar class of the WEC in 2024, driving the Ferrari 499P.

While Kubica is thrilled to be racing for Ferrari, the lingering regret of his F1 dream that never materialized still remains “an open wound” in his heart.

"I think that driving a Ferrari represents something different than racing with other brands," Kubica explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In the past I had looked for Ferrari many times.

"As an F1 driver, I had two objectives: to win the world championship and get into the red.

"It didn’t happen because life served me another scenario, and I confess that an open wound remained. Now this opportunity is a great challenge."

Despite the disappointment, Kubica remains focused on the present and is determined to make the most of his opportunity to race for Ferrari and AF Corse in the WEC’s Hypercar category.

“I’m happy that my path and the path of AF Corse will be the same next season,” he said.

“AF is one of the most successful teams ever in motorsport: I’m sure we’ll do a great job together. What’s more, I’m back in an Italian team, which is no small matter.”

Kubica's story is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has faced immense adversity but has never lost his passion for racing.

His journey is an inspiration to aspiring racers worldwide, showing that even in the face of setbacks, dreams can sometimes take unexpected turns.

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