682 replies to this topic

[MrHahn]

I fear hes done with F1 forever with what they have been saying, this is just no ordinary injury.

I think Webber's accident was on par with this, he almost won a chip afterwards

[Shi]

I think Webber's accident was on par with this, he almost won a chip afterwards

hmm I don't think any of the current F1 drivers have been hurt this bad, not even Webber and Massa.

"Robert Kubica's right forearm was cut in two places, with significant lesions to the bones and the tendons. We did our best to rebuild the functions of the forearm.

"It took seven doctors, split into two teams and a total of seven hours to complete the operation."

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/89316

My right fore arm felt all weird just reading that

[mads]

the following car in the rally,



kinda earie listening to them breath after Kubica's co-driver begs them for help

[mads]

[mads]

[mads]

[mads]

Kubica to undergo second surgery

By Simon Strang and Michele Lostia Monday, February 7th 2011, 12:56 GMT

Robert KubicaRobert Kubica faces more surgery for treatment to his injuries after responding 'well' to a seven-hour operation to save his right hand, following his crash during the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday.

The 26-year-old suffered a sub-amputation of his right forearm and lost a significant amount of blood while he was trapped in his Skoda Fabia rally car for more than one hour, while emergency crews tried to extricate him.

Kubica is reported to have lost control between two timed runs and made contact with an Armco barrier, which pierced the footwell of his car. He also sustained compound fractures to his right elbow and shoulder, as well as more to his right leg.

The director of the trauma centre at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure, Dr Giorgio Barabino told Italian media that Kubica will remain in intensive therapy for at least another day, but that initial signs are positive.

"The patient will stay in intensive care for 24 to 48 hours," he was quoted as saying by Il Vostro Giornale. "We are optimistic, anyway, since he is responding very well to treatment.

"Obviously he feels a lot of pain, but it couldn't have been any different."

"After the crash, Robert was taken to the trauma centre with the maximum hemorrhagic shock," added Barabino. "The first phase of stabilisation was long and difficult, and it carried on in the operating theatre. Wounds-wise, there was large bleeding which was difficult to control.

"He is coming out of sedation and is responding well. He shows good breathing autonomy, but lung complications may arise. We'll see in the next hours. In any case, the hemorrhage is out of danger.

Upon coming out of sedation this morning, Kubica's first words were to ask about the condition of his co-driver, Jakub Gerber, who was uninjured in the crash.

Hand specialist Dr Igor Rossello, who assisted in Kubica's surgery, said the Renault F1 driver has responded well to the initial treatment.

"The patient arrived here presenting an extremely complex trauma, with lesions at several levels," he said. "Our first priority was to keep the limb alive, and this is a goal we have reached. The hand is warm, vascularised and is not swollen.

"The second part of the operation was reconstructing the anatomy of the limb, since the tendons were completely severed. Then we moved on to padding the nerve lesions and we managed to recuperate the two main nerves of the hand, which were severed too.

"Today I've medicated Robert and the hand is, at the moment, in fine conditions to the extent that the patient was able to do some simple movement of the fingers, which gives good hope. We'll see how it evolves. At the moment it's difficult to make predictions."

The hospital's director of orthopaedics Dr Francesco Lanza confirmed that Kubica will require further surgery however, as the initial operation was focused purely on preserving the functionality of the hand and stabilising blood loss.

"The patient will have to undergo more surgery: not only on the parts already treated, but also for other problems and traumas he suffered, for which we couldn't work on because of the emergency," he said. "The important thing was to stabilise the patient and to pad the biggest wounds.

"For the fractures suffered on his leg, he will need at least three or four months to allow the bone to set back together."

Kubica's Renault F1 team principal Eric Boullier told the BBC that he is encouraged by his driver's progress and remains confident he will recover faster than the year predicted by doctors yesterday.

"Robert is doing better this morning and he is actually in the process of being woken up," he said. "There has already been some good communication with the doctors.

"Obviously when you have a big crash like he had yesterday, doctors always predict the worst case scenario. It took seven hours in the surgery room to repair his hand and his arm, but this morning it is really fine - they needed 24 hours to make sure it recovered completely and it looks like this morning they are all happy."

Boullier also confirmed that the team is considering its options for the start of the season, with Kubica certain to miss at least the first five races, and possibly the majority of the campaign.

"We have already started to think about contingency plan, he is definitely out for a couple of months," said Boullier. "The recovery will be quicker than one year but today it is a bit too early to know exactly how long he will need."

[vietlol]

clever nosecam solution on the virgin, even if it doesnt give much time at least it looks neat and different

[Shi]

My hand got scared just reading that. Can't imagine how painful that would be.

Poor guy

[Redliner]

So Brunno Senna will be taking over the driving duties at Lotus-Renault in Kubica's unforunate accident. not the way he wanted a ride, I'm sure...but...



This is the only time he will get a chance to shine...no excuses now for the kid.

[cASe SenSiTive]

Really hoping Kubica can come back 100% from this. It sounds awful though.

[cASe SenSiTive]

Anyone else get the impression that Boullier was being overly optimistic in order to save sponsor $$?

[shallow777]

Wow this is awful. Not only is Kubica's career future in jeopardy but Renault basically built the team and the car around Kubica . No matter who they put in the car I don't think it will preform at the level it had the potential to.

[Nacho]

At least they didn't go all smoke screens and mirrors at their car launch. McLaren went as far as building their new car in front of a crowd for the launch, using FAKE parts

Seriously, why bother?

So apparently fans that won a contest got to be involved in the building/launch by bringing in the parts for the mechanics to put together.

http://www.wired.com...ding-an-f1-car/

Sorta neat.

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

[kngrsll]

HRT for best looking car in 2011??

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/89335

[Redliner]

Man did Kubica get lucky

[AErrorist]

I assumed last years design wasn't so much a "design" as it was "we ran out of money to paint the car"

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Man did Kubica get lucky

Initial stories said that he had hit a little church. Had no idea his car had gotten kebab'd like that..

[Shi]

Daaaaaaaaaaaamn

[chiuey]

Initial stories said that he had hit a little church. Had no idea his car had gotten kebab'd like that..

He is seriously lucky to be alive. But then again, it's not the first time he's had a great shunt.

He might just be the first bionic F1 World Champion by the time he's done.

[MrHahn]

HRT for best looking car in 2011??

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/89335

Looks like the old shitty BAR Honda to me

Initial stories said that he had hit a little church. Had no idea his car had gotten kebab'd like that..

holy fuck

[_R_]

Nick Heidfeld will test for Renault at Jerez later this week as the outfit evaluates a replacement for the injured Robert Kubica.

The German has emerged as the leading contender to stand in for Kubica, who could be out for the remainder of the season as the result of the serious injuries he picked up in a rally crash at the weekend.

Although Renault has five reserve drivers, and is giving its lead one Bruno Senna a first test in its car this week, the team has made no secret of the fact that it will need an experienced driver to lead its team if Kubica is sidelined for a long time.

Heidfeld has held talks with Renault over the last 48 hours and agreement has been reached for him to run at Jerez at some point this week. Vitaly Petrov will test, as originally scheduled, on Thursday and Friday before Senna and Heidfeld are given mileage over the weekend.

Renault team owner Gerard Lopez said earlier today that the team would wait until after testing before deciding on who will partner Vitaly Petrov this year - and Heidfeld's chances will depend on how he compares pace-wise against Senna.

"We must wait for the Jerez tests now, and thankfully the Barcelona ones too, and see how the car is going, and how the driver - who will start the season and maybe ending it too - is doing. We don't know," he told IVG.it

"There are drivers who have had good races, for example Nick Heidfeld. We all know that Nick is rather good, but we don't know what level he is in now, we don't know how he does with our car. Same goes for Vitantonio Liuzzi, same goes - I don't know -for Bruno Senna, who last year was in a team with a car that could do nothing."

Heidfeld has been left without a seat after being replaced at Sauber at the end of last season by Sergio Perez, who brought valuable sponsorship backing from Mexico.

[yonson]

Fuck yeah, go nick!!!!!

[TimzSI]

Nick really is the best choice. Tiny (KERS), mega-experience, fast, reliable (that streak!)and highly motivated to win. I hope he gets it.

I am, and have been, a Liuzzi fan so that would work too. But just doesn't seem likely.

[vietlol]

Nick is first in the wanking when it comes to driver choice for Renault.