Robert Kubica has admitted it is unlikely he will ever return to formula one.
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali admitted recently that, prior to the Pole’s horror rally crash of early 2011, Kubica was a front runner to become a driver for the fabled Italian team.
"Unfortunately, I don’t think he will be back," said Domenicali, referring to the limited mobility of 28-year-old Kubica’s right arm, which was almost severed in the crash.
Indeed, former BMW and Renault driver Kubica admitted in an interview with the BBC this week that a return to F1 is "almost impossible".
Having tested this year in Mercedes’ F1 simulator, he said he could drive an F1 car on a circuit like Barcelona, but not somewhere like Monaco, because he is unable to rotate his arm to achieve steeper steering angles.
So Kubica said Domenicali’s frank assessment of his F1 return hopes didn’t bother him.
"Maybe it sounds strange but I was actually quite pleased, because it showed they’ve been checking up on me," he told the Independent, as he prepares to race Citroen’s full world rally car in Wales this weekend.
"I know the reality, and the reality is the improvement in my range of movement is still happening," said Kubica, who this year won the second-tier WRC2 title.
"There is no ’finished’ (with F1)," he insisted, according to the Daily Mail.
"Some doctors say it (his arm) can’t be put right; some (say) that it can. I am hoping," added Kubica.
"One day I would like the opportunity, but I understand that the sport goes on and time keeps running."