Robert Kubica suffers multiple fractures in Italian rally crash
2011 F1 season
Robert Kubica was taken to hospital by helicopter
Robert Kubica has suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand following a crash in a rally in Italy.
Kubica was taken to hospital by helicopter following a crash in the Ronde di Andora rally.
Renault have confirmed he is undergoing medical checks but have not given details about his injuries.
A statement from the team said:
“After undergoing extensive medical checks this morning, Robert Kubica has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is currently undergoing surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure.
“Robert suffered a high-speed accident this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.
“Daniel Morelli, Robert’s manager, will be available for the press in front of the hospital emergency entrance at 16:30 CET (15:30 GMT).
“Lotus Renault GP driver, Robert Kubica, suffered an accident at high speed this morning while competing in the Ronde di Andora Rally.
“The driver was airlifted to Pietra Ligure Hospital, where he is currently undergoing medical checks. His co-driver is fine.”
He was due to drive at the Jerez test this week. Renault’s third driver is Bruno Senna.
Kubica’s co-driver Jakub Gerber posted “I’m OK” on his Facebook page around an hour ago.
The video below shot earlier in the rally shows the Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car Kubica was driving:
This video shows the aftermath of the crash:
Robert Kubica rally crash
- Kubica tests DTM Mercedes at Valencia
- Kubica says he will return to F1 if he feels fit enough
- Kubica suffers injury setback after fall
- Robert Kubica to miss start of 2012 season
- Kubica’s final operation “a total success”
- Kubica hopes to leave hospital “within ten days”
- Kubica “better every day” but too soon to decide on return
- Heidfeld: “not the way I would have liked” to return
- Renault confirm Heidfeld to take Kubica’s place
- Kubica to have final surgery on Wednesday
Image © Lorenzo Cargiolli – http://www.lorcarg.it
Fallon said on 6th February 2011, 11:18
BBC saying he has suffered ‘serious injuries’. Not looking good :/. Get well soon robert!
Samuel said on 6th February 2011, 11:19
Hope the guy is fine. But I always thought it was kind of weird he was allowed to rally, thinking there would be some sort of ‘warranty’ in his contract banning that.
Safe to say he would not think seriously about not rallying anymore during the F1 season
SennaNmbr1 (@sennanmbr1) said on 6th February 2011, 11:24
How far do you go? Webber has inured himself twice on a mountain bike.
Rallying does seem an odd allowance though.
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:30
The old.. ‘don’t go outside on a vehicle unless we own it’ clause.
Sijs said on 6th February 2011, 11:33
And i can’t believe he was driving a Skoda Fabia! Hes really crazy
BasCB (@bascb) said on 6th February 2011, 12:32
He got a chance with really competative equipment (that car led for quite a while in the latest IRC event – the monaco rally). I would think one of the reasons he is happy at Renault, is that they allow him to have a rallye outing once in a while.
SparkyJ23 (@sparkyj23) said on 6th February 2011, 11:33
You go as far as is reasonable to protect your not small investment – you ban most enjoyable things and enjoy them when your career is over. Roger was their only chance of winning WDC and now that’s gone.
Webber knows that broken shouldblade last year didn’t help him – do you think he risks the same in what is prob his last season?
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:39
Roger? Roger Federer perhaps? I guess you mean Robert :)
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 6th February 2011, 18:49
Haha. I read that and immediately thought of Roger the deceased brother of Scott Stoddard in the film Grand Prix.
bosyber (@bosyber) said on 6th February 2011, 11:56
But Webber had his leg in 2009 already – would have thought he learned from it, but then it turns out he got another injury in 2010 – Thoughts of donkeys and hitting the same stone twice come to mind.
But I hope Kubica’s injuries are less bad than they now seem and talk of losing a hand seems really a bit much – multiple fractures with unclear how severe doesn’t sound very good for his season tough.
Damon (@damon) said on 6th February 2011, 11:22
In all Polish reports they say “multiple fructures”.
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:24
Well, that could be two then. More important is where those fractures are.
Mister Nillionaire said on 6th February 2011, 11:28
planetf1.com
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk) said on 6th February 2011, 11:22
Bummer… I hate his boss but this is what no one wants to see happen, get well soon Kubi.
So Lotus Renault is looking very very weak at the moment… Who and Pet?
Those Kimi rumors that were floating around a few months ago are looking pretty good at this point.
SennaNmbr1 (@sennanmbr1) said on 6th February 2011, 11:25
The irony. Lead driver injures himself in a rallying crash and is replaced by rally driving ex-F1 driver.
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:27
I don’t think that you’ll see Kimi coming back.
There are plenty of other worthy drivers that are either not currently employed or are reserve drivers for other teams.
Obviously Senna will be hoping to move into the ‘poles’ position, but that might not be what it says in his contract.
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:32
Well it does actually. He’s the official No.1 reserve driver for Lotus Renault. So.. Senna in a Black and Gold Lotus… Danny Bahars mind must be whirring.
Kenny (@kenny) said on 6th February 2011, 11:32
I don’t think Kimi wants to come back.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk) said on 6th February 2011, 11:33
Agreed VXR but Loto Renno hasn’t got a #1 to start the season.
Hamish said on 6th February 2011, 11:35
I think the Kimi rumours will always be around as given Renault have gone very aggressive this year they will want to a lead driver to develop the car.
As good as they are the car will not be developed in the hands of Petrov and one of the 5 potential replacements.
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:50
Kimi was pretty ticked off with the whole Renault thing, so I think those rumours will be rumours for the sake of being rumours… if you catch my drift.
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk) said on 6th February 2011, 11:55
Absolutely Hare… it was just a wandering wishful thinking on my part.
matt88 (@matt88) said on 6th February 2011, 11:30
first medical report is expected for 2 pm here (1 pm GMT). there are some concerns about
matt88 (@matt88) said on 6th February 2011, 11:31
… the fact he could lose the use of his hand.
Mister Nillionaire said on 6th February 2011, 11:32
Damn, I really hope it is not the case…
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk) said on 6th February 2011, 11:34
Oh my!
matt88 (@matt88) said on 6th February 2011, 11:39
surely hope not, too, but online newspapers are reporting very unoptimistic rumors. his left hand has been compressed for a very long time and seems compromised…
SennaNmbr1 (@sennanmbr1) said on 6th February 2011, 11:31
Left arm and left leg according to the BBC now.
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:33
Left hand drive meets wall, makes sense.
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:37
And we all know how important your left leg is in F1!
Hamish said on 6th February 2011, 11:42
Unless you’re Barrichello
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:48
Indeed. But ‘Barry’ just can’t make his mind up. :)
SoLiDG said on 6th February 2011, 11:35
I hope it’s not to bad and he can make a full recovery.
And let’s hope we get an official update soon, as different sites deliver different reports.
Not looking great anyway :(
Mister Nillionaire said on 6th February 2011, 11:36
ansa.it
minimihkel said on 6th February 2011, 11:37
This is awful news! I really wish all the best to Kubica, who i regard as one of the best drivers in F1 today. Crossing fingers that the injuries are a least not permanent. Get well soon!
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:38
The word “amputation” is being used in some reports now!
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:52
Well, you know what the internet is like..
CarsVsChildren (@carsvschildren) said on 6th February 2011, 16:18
Well I just got an email offering mefrom the Egyptian president offering me $2,000,000 if i help him.
So I’m hoping honest and accurate….
CarsVsChildren (@carsvschildren) said on 6th February 2011, 16:19
that would have been much better if i had read it before posting it…
NetBurst (@netburst) said on 6th February 2011, 11:38
German newspaper Spiegel says his life is in danger
http://www.spiegel.de/sport/formel1/0,1518,743822,00.html
Tomster said on 6th February 2011, 11:45
Well, it is Spiegel Online. I would not trust them accurately rporting what they had for lunch.
Anyway, all the best to Robert, may he have a speedy and full recovery!
SoLiDG said on 6th February 2011, 11:46
Belgian sites also says he’s not out of danger for his life.
But let’s wait for an official report for now. That he was concious all the way is a good sign imo!
Pedal to the Vettel (@pedal-to-the-vettel) said on 6th February 2011, 11:42
Hope your ok Kubica
renzo said on 6th February 2011, 11:43
this is such a bad bad bad news…
Hare said on 6th February 2011, 11:44
What concerns me is… The report that he fractured his leg / wrist seems to have come form the scene of the accident, onsite.
From my own experience, fractures of a non-obvious nature, aren’t easy to diagnose unless there’s some clear evidence. Bones pointing where they should for example. So I can see where the speculation about loosing the hand is from, if it is a drastic injury. However, how can we possibly take that on face? We have to assume that he’s broken some bones, and should be ok in a couple of months given modern medicine.
Either way, Robert is a lionheart, I’m convinced of it. He would probably driver an F1 car with a hook if he had too. Hope it doesn’t come to that to be honest, but he’s a legend waiting to happen in my mind.
bosyber (@bosyber) said on 6th February 2011, 11:59
I agree, let’s wait to hear the reports – it could be bad, but I wish him all the best for a strong return to F1 racing.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 6th February 2011, 12:36
If his hand and foot got stuck and crushed, it will be pretty tough work bolting them together and a longer period of recovery.
I suppose we’ll just have to wait for this 14.00 CET for some news.
Ryan said on 6th February 2011, 11:45
As a doctor, the only info I can I add is one related to prognosis. That relies on a diagnosis, which we don’t have yet, all we’ve got is chinese whispers and 3rd hand information.
However, based on speculation, assuming a peripheral injury which would require surgical reduction and fixation, it’d be roughly 6 weeks before he could put weight/force through it. Another 6 weeks before putting any decent loads post that. Given the fine motor control required, a femur fracture (assuming mid shaft) would be far more favourable then a radius/ulna injury
VXR said on 6th February 2011, 11:50
A voice of reason.:)
Jeremy said on 6th February 2011, 11:58
Thanks for the (appropiately cautious) medical view.
So sad for Robert, as Hare say’s he’s a lionheart and one of my favourite drivers. Just have to hope that he’s going to recover fully in the end. That would be good news in itself, but I’m so sad that it will wreck his season as seems likely. Not that I pray, but I pray that’s all it will do.
Get well soon, Kubi. Hoping you can come back like you did after Canada.
Pedal to the Vettel (@pedal-to-the-vettel) said on 6th February 2011, 11:45
Hope your ok Kubica…