Robert Kubica in rally crash

06 February 2011 - 21:00

Lotus-Renault F1 driver Robert Kubica has undergone seven hours of surgery to repair the damage done to his right forearm, and faces more operations to reset breaks in his shoulder and leg. Despite this, the Polish driver is reported to be responding well, and has talked with doctors and friends.

He was driving a Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car when it hit an Armco barrier in the Ronde di Andora Rally in Italy on Sunday, the barrier piercing the cabin through the firewall. Lotus-Renault GP confirmed the driver has suffered ‘multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand'.

Co-driver Jakub Gerber escaped unharmed, but Kubica had to be carefully removed from the wreckage by fireman and was immediately airlifted to the Santa Corona Hospital close to Genoa, where underwent surgery.

His manager Daniele Morelli was quoted as saying his right hand had been 'revascularised', with surgeons trying to restore its function. In 2003 Kubica suffered severe injuries to the same hand and was left with titanium bolts to secure the shattered bones.

He is now all but certain to miss the majority of the 2011 season. Lotus-Renault's official third drivers are Romain Grosjean, and F1 legend Ayrton Senna's nephew, Bruno Senna.

Rubens Barrichello has offered a message of support via his Twitter page. The Brazilian said: "I would like to ask you for your best wishes to Kubica. He is being operated right now. We all like him and he deserves all the best."

2009 F1 champ Jenson Button tweeted: "Shocking news about Robert Kubica. I wish him a speedy recovery."