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[Jinjo]

Performing surgery and placing rods/screws to stabilize the hand doesn't mean its going to be a viable hand. We won't know that answer for a while.

I'm just glad his life is no longer in danger.

Exactly. Autosport reports that the doctors are focusing their efforts on his injured hand and in particular its blood supply. So it's not an ordinary fracture.

 

[NHale]

Major dilemma for Renault. What do they do for this season. They have a car that has potential but need to develop it with a driver like Kubica and then score points also.

A driver like Kubica is impossible to replace. He's both fast (imho he's a top 3 driver in F1) and experienced, so now they would have to compromise and go after experience (Heidfeld) or fast (Hulkenberg). I seriously doubt they will go with Petrov and Senna if Kubica can't drive this year.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

Senna is in no way worthy of Renault at all.

 

[S. L.]

don't they have like 5 reserve drivers? :lol
but yeah, Heidfeld seems like a good option

 

[navanman]

Senna is in no way worthy of Renault at all.

Exactly. Senna is not what Renault need now. He was in that shit box HRT last year which had no development and thats not what Renault need now with 3 tests to go and 6 months of hard work developing the car.

Heidfeld is probably the preferred option now.

 

[h3ro]

Exactly. Autosport reports that the doctors are focusing their efforts on his injured hand and in particular its blood supply. So it's not an ordinary fracture.

If they are focusing their efforts towards blood supply, that makes me think that he's suffered a fracture at the base of the wrist/bottom of hand where there a few bones who's viability depends solely on a few small vessels and cutting off supply means basically death of that bone. It's seen a lot in older people that use their hands to break falls.

Hopefully he gets though the procedures with no long term health/disability issues. F1 takes a back seat to that right now.

If we do turn our attention towards what Renault will do though, I wonder if buying out Hulk from Force India would be an option for the race drive this year. Lot's of reserve drivers will often add that stipulation to their contracts and I'm sure Willi Weber would make sure to include it in his testing contract with FI.

 

[navanman]

Fuck me, the crash barrier must have wrecked his hand.

Quote from Robert's manager Daniele Morelli: "The surgeons are trying to restore the functionality of his right hand."

Morelli adds they "...must now think about the muscle function, but Robert has a very strong temper and will succeed."

 

[Cereal KiIIer]

 

[ExtraKr1spy]

Hope Kubica gets well soon but what he did is kinda stupid.

I know he's a race car driver but damn the F1 season is about to begin. He put his team in a bad spot now.

Wonder if Renault will try to get some of their money back from him.

They should give Half-Nelson a call...

 

[Goldrusher]

I'd love to see Villeneuve again.

But more likely...

Heidfeld ?
d'Ambrosio maybe (Genii/Gravity)
Fisichella perhaps ?

Definitely not Fauzy, Tung or Charouz.

Maybe Senna or Grosjean, but both are a big step down from Kubica.

 

[jamaniek]

The amount of support for Kubica is amazing

http://twitter.com/OfficialLRGP/f1-drivers
+

#NickHeidfeld
Dear Robert, after the shocking news my thoughts are with you. Get well soon. Nick

#RyanBriscoe6
In '03 Kubica severely broke his arm, made a speedy recovery & won upon his 1st race back as my teammate. Do it again my friend, good luck!

#Juan Pablo Montoya
Our prayers go to robert kubica. Hopefully everythinggoes well

#Jenson Button
Shocking news about Robert Kubica.. I wish him a speedy recovery.

#H_Kovalainen Heikki Kovalainen
All thoughts on Kubica tonight, hes a great guy lets hope operations go well and he makes full recovery...

#F1 The team would like to wish a speedy recovery to Robert Kubica. Get well soon Robert.
OfficialMGP
MERCEDES GP PETRONAS

Some new info from the OR:

Surgeons are trying to restore the functionality of his right hand. They already revascularized limb bone and repaired the system, now have to think about the muscle function, but Robert has a very strong temper and will succeed.

 

[anonnumber6]

Wasn't Kubica involved in a car accident that meant he had to have titanium bolts in his right arm?

Or am I thinking of the wrong driver?

 

[h3ro]

Wasn't Kubica involved in a car accident that meant he had to have titanium bolts in his right arm?

Or am I thinking of the wrong driver?

Right guy, he had a shunt that require rod placement in his arm a while back.

 

[anonnumber6]

Right guy, he had a shunt that require rod placement in his arm a while back.

I really hope he makes it back

Definitely one of the top drivers on the grid, he carried Renault last year and it was almost a given that he would win a WDC during his career.

 

[jamaniek]

Doctors have managed to restore a blood circulation and reset the bones.

Autoklub.pl reports that the doctors have to rebuild tendons and ligaments of the arm which were broken back in 2003 in Poland, when Kubica had his first accident.

All from polish media.

 

[DieH@rd]

This season is finished for Kubica...

Renault gotta bring back Kimi... Sena is not worthy of that seat.

 

[jamaniek]

"Eric Boullier also said it was far too early to think about a replacement for Robert in Bahrain, but more than likely he wouldn't be racing"

.

 

[SCHUEY F1]

I'd love to see Villeneuve again.

But more likely...

Heidfeld ?
d'Ambrosio maybe (Genii/Gravity)
Fisichella perhaps ?

Definitely not Fauzy, Tung or Charouz.

Maybe Senna or Grosjean, but both are a big step down from Kubica.

I would also like to see Villeneuve,it's nice to want things.

 

[Dilly]

Is it now or in an hour that they would update on the situation?

 

[wonderkins]

I really hope he makes it back

Definitely one of the top drivers on the grid, he carried Renault last year and it was almost a given that he would win a WDC during his career.

I have no doubts Kubica will be back on the grid. When? Who knows at this point. His preternatural focus, his seeming indifference to the pomp of F1, his love of motorsport... Makes me believe that, of all the drivers on the grid, Kubica is a sure bet to achieve a return to the grid.

Kubica is one of my faves, especially his dry sense of humor. Heartsick for him right now, but I have no worries that he won't return.

Also, thought this was touching:

#F1 Report that Fernando Alonso has gone to the hospital. Obviously he won't have seen Robert yet but it's a nice gesture #kubica

Given their friendship, I'm sure Alonso's presence will be good for Kubica's spirits.

 

[jamaniek]

Kubica's surgery has finished.

 

[Shaneus]

Kubica's surgery has finished.

Do hope his okay... he's not exactly a driver that polarizes people, everyone seems to think he's incredibly talented and not at all arrogant. Fingers crossed he comes out still being able to drive like he used to.

 

[Mobius 1]

This is awful.

Some of the press are already trumpeting Senna as a replacement. Might be his chance to prove he's got talent on a car that actually goes the distance.

 

[AcridMeat]

FUCK

Easily favorite driver on the grid. I want to see Renault try to pry Kimi, but maybe they'll get Heidfeld.

KUBI WHYYYY

 

[jamaniek]

"VERY IMPORTANT NEWS FROM LOCAL MEDIA

shortly after 21, after seven hours , complex surgery was concluded in Santa Corona di Pietra Ligure on the Formula One driver Robert Kubica, involved in a serious accident this morning at the rally "Ronde di Andora. " Just out of surgery, Professor Igor Rossello has commented on the action: "The patient reported two major injuries, but about the action performed by me, I can say that we managed to retrieve the limb. Now, what we can do is wait, the patient is hospitalized in intensive care, of course it cannot be excluded that in case of complications, new interventions might be needed .

While the chief surgeon of the hand of the San Paolo di Savona operated on the upper limb of Kubica, a second team took care of the leg, groped again to reform the severe trauma reported nell'icidente, occurred 12 hours now ago.

Robert Kubica will now be recovering at the hospital Santa Corona in the intensive care unit for at least five days. The prognosis, at least for the moment, is absolutely secure. To questions from reporters, addressed to Professor Rossello on the possible return to the track of Kubica, the specialist said: "It is not for me to make, but I can say that for the rehabilitation of the limb will take at least a year"

OMG! The whole season. On the other hand he's ok and only that matters.

 

[Goldrusher]

(translated from) local media:

"We have to wait at least a week to see if his hand survives. " This is the first comment of Professor Igor Rossello after the operation that led right limb of Robert Kubica Hospital Santa Corona. At best, the twenty-six pilot Lotus Renault will again use his right arm only in one year. The limb has undergone a delicate operation to implant bone reconstruction, and reconnection of tissue vascularization.

The operation lasted over seven hours, performed by the team of Professor Rossello, a specialist in hand surgery center of San Paolo di Savona. In the operating room even Dr. Riccardo Ceccarelli, the team doctor of Kubica. The motorist will remain in hospital in Pietra Ligure long, presumably, while the prognosis remains reserved for a week. In the coming days the doctors will assess the conditions of vascularization of the hand and right arm of the runner

Alonso at the hospital...

 

[scarybore]

"We have to wait at least a week to see if his hand survives."

Damn. I wish him all the best, he is going to have a very hard year ahead of him.

 

[S. L.]

OMG! The whole season. On the other hand he's ok and only that matters.

if it takes the whole season to recover this should rule out any of their crappy reserve drivers as his replacement i'd think.

 

[h3ro]

I hope his rehabilitation goes well and he's back in the cockpit next year.

Wili Weber is hopefully on the phone with Mallaya and Boullier and getting that transfer hammered out.

 

[Goldrusher]

Good photo of the wreck, look at the hole where the guardrail went through the car:

Robert's lucky to be alive.

 

[Psychotext]

Very much so. That's a hell of a wreck.

 

[jamaniek]

HOLY MOTHER!

 

[pootle]

OMG! The whole season. On the other hand he's ok and only that matters.

Yeah looking at the photos brings it home that it could have been a much bigger tragedy.

Hopefully he recovers and takes his place back next year.

Team bosses are going to wrap their drivers in cotton wool and put them in a box for the off season if they keep looking for excitement doing dangerous things.

Don't some footballers have clauses in their contract listing the things they're not allowed to do in case they get injured?

 

[Dilly]

Seeing this picture, I'm glad he's still alive.

 

[Shaneus]

OMG! The whole season. On the other hand he's ok and only that matters.

Pun intended?

But looking at the pictures, it's a testament to the construction of the cars that he *only* came out of that with a fractured hand/wrist.

Godspeed, Kubica.

 

[navanman]

Just catching up on the latest news.
I feel really bad for Kubica, what must be going threw his mind at this moment.

Sounds like he got the best surgeon in Italy, I hope the operation went well.

 

[NHale]

Pun intended?

But looking at the pictures, it's a testament to the construction of the cars that he *only* came out of that with a fractured hand/wrist.

Godspeed, Kubica.

I don't think the construction had anything to do with it since it didn't avoid the rail from hitting the pilot. Had the rail entered a little more to the right and this would have been a lot more serious.

 

[keyboardcat]

Bobby K

 

[navanman]

Here is the quick interview with the surgeon.
Sounds like it was a crush, nearly severed injury. Complete reconstruction or the forearm and hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hEe0084HoT4

 

[Adamm]

*pic*

Seeing this picture, I'm glad he's still alive.

Holy crap! 0_o

 

[jamaniek]

Pun intended?

But looking at the pictures, it's a testament to the construction of the cars that he *only* came out of that with a fractured hand/wrist.

Godspeed, Kubica.

Haha. I haven't even notice...

I'm watching polish chanel called "Polsat News" right now (very believable source) and according to a polish reporter who talked with the doctors, Robert was in a very bad condition when he arrived to a hospital. He lost a lot of blood and the anesthetist has said that at beginning he was almost certain that Robert won't survive. Both surgeries (hand and leg) went well and Kubica is currently on the ICU.

 

[Shaneus]

Shit, didn't realise he was that close to death. So many people have died from rallying. Actually, scratch that... a lot of famous rally drivers have died, just not that many from actual rally driving. McRae, Burns immediately come to mind.

 

[Dash Kappei]

I'd wait to see if Kubica was even close to losing his right hand before making that claim.

You just made a fool out of yourself again and again then.

Anyway, Kubica has gone under many blood transfusions it seems, that was the biggest life scare, so we should be thankful he survived.
Doctor said about a week needs to pass before he can make final judgement about the hand's survival and that if everything goes alright we can expect him to recover in 1 year. He wouldn't say if at this point we can expect to see him drive an F1 ever again, obviously too soon to make that call.
But having seen what amazing things has poor Alex Zanardi achieved, I really hope Robert can fight as hard as Alex did back then.

Drivers support has been amazing simply because Robert's the most beloved chap of the Circus, a non-aggressive cheerful and witty young man.

 

[Frawdder]

Kubica

Really hope everything goes well for him and he makes a speedy recovery. Would still love to see him at the front contending for the title like we all know he can.

 

[DarkJC]

That crash was terrible, I'm just catching up on this thread now. Even though it looks like its going to take a while for him to recover, thankfully he's coming out of this with a shot at racing again.

You just made a fool out of yourself again and again then.

Jesus, could you be any bigger of a dick? Had to squeeze that in before saying you were thankful Kubicas alive, god knows winning internet arguments is pretty important.

 

[SCHUEY F1]

Wow at the car pics. Very lucky to be alive. Hope he can make it back by the end of the season.

 

[Templar Wizard]

Sensational Senna in Seat????
i wonder will he get the drive.

finnish media already on the kimi4renault bullshit, very unlikely to happen.
Petrov will be getting his Ivan Drago training from Uksana:
"'Президент' польский мертв ... Вы лидер сейчас ..."

 

[NHale]

Sensational Senna in Seat????
i wonder will he get the drive.

finnish media already on the kimi4renault bullshit, very unlikely to happen.
Petrov will be getting his Ivan Drago training from Uksana:
"'Президент' польский мертв ... Вы лидер сейчас ..."

I doubt Renault would want Senna alongside Petrov if Kubica can't drive in 2011. It's not like Senna proved to be clearly faster than his teammates last year, so clearly they can find someone better.

My guess is that Renault will contact Kimi but he was clearly unhappy by how Renault handled the negotiations last year, so Heidfeld and Hulkenberg are the most likely choices.

 

[jamaniek]

3:30-3:34:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALbxMiwf4nw&feature=player_embedded#

HOLY SHIT!!!

Edit: Damn you jamaniek !

 

[Leonsito]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALbxMiwf4nw#t=3m15s

Here you can see Kubica's Skoda from the camera in the next car as it reaches the accident zone about 1 minute after the crash, horrible.

Edit: Damn you jamaniek !