30/03/2018
NEWS STORY
While the likes of Fernando Alonso might believe his recent experiences have been something of a roller-coaster ride, what of Robert Kubica who is still seeking a return to the F1 grid seven years after the rally crash that almost claimed his life.
Though it appeared certain that a return to single-seaters, certainly at the highest level, was out of the question, the Pole's resilience has seen him mount an amazing come-back.
Allowed time in the Mercedes simulator, Kubica's initial outing in his old Renault was more or less put down to sentimental reasons, the team claiming it was owed to him.
However, further outings followed and in time the Pole was not only driving contemporary machinery but taking part in s 'shoot-out' for the Williams seat alongside Lance Stroll.
For whatever reason, neither the Pole nor his 'shoot-out' rival, Paul di Resta, got the nod, the Grove outfit instead opting for Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin and his roubles.
However, retained as test and reserve driver, Kubica has been promised time in the FW41 this season including a number of FP1 outings.
During a visit to Warsaw, the popular Pole once again took the opportunity to state his case in terms of a full-time return to the grid.
"The work that started at the end of 2015 has paid off," he told reporters, "and here I find myself in better shape than I was back in the day.
"I can continue to fulfil my passion and take another important step towards racing in F1," he said of his current role, which though not what he envisaged when taking part in the 'shoot-out', is certainly more than he could have dreamed of a few years back.
"I must work harder than before because everyone knows that I have limits but it turned out during the trials in Valencia that these limits aren't significant enough to stop me from driving in F1 at the highest level," he said, referring to last year's initial test with Renault, when he drove the 2012 car.
"That incredible feeling that I had after the first laps of the track, I will remember them for the rest of my days. It's probably the best moment of my life," he added.