Kubica will stay on for two more years at Renault
Another piece in the jigsaw puzzle fell into place today when Renault confirmed that Robert Kubica will stay with the team until 2012, an announcement that had been expected for some time.
Earlier this year there was speculation that the Pole would go to Ferrari, but the extension for Felipe Massa put an end to that. With no obvious or better alternatives on the horizon – at least for next year – Kubica has decided to stay where he is and try to build up a championship winning team around him, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher (1994-‘5) and Fernando Alonso (2005-‘6).
It seems likely that the top five teams will be unchanged next year, with questions marks only over the second Renault seat.
In a team statement Kubica said: “It was a straightforward decision for me to continue with a team where I feel at home. What’s important for me is to be in the right atmosphere, with a good group of people, where everybody is pulling in the same direction. This is what we have tried to build from the beginning of my time with Renault. “I think we have already achieved a lot together, and I believe that with plenty of effort, time and the right approach, we can move even further forward. That is certainly our target, so we will keep working hard and pushing on every front, not just for the rest of this season but also for next year when there are more big rule changes on the way. I am really looking forward to the challenge.” Team boss Eric Boullier added: “We are delighted that Robert will remain with us for the next two seasons and I would like to thank him for the faith he has shown in this team. There have been many rumours surrounding his future in recent weeks, which were a tribute to how well he has driven this year, and we are very happy to have agreed a multi-year deal. “Our clear goal is to become title contenders over the next two years. To do so, we need a driver of Robert’s calibre: somebody who is fast, totally committed and doesn’t make mistakes. His performances during the first half of the 2010 season were flawless, and we hope to achieve great things together in the future.” E
Adam Cooper F1 