Renault: Kubica is not on the list

Robert Kubica is not on Renault's wishlist of Formula 1 drivers for 2018, despite impressing when testing a Formula 1 car for the French manufacturer at Valencia earlier this month.

The popular Polish driver was reportedly quicker than the Renault reserve driver Sergei Sirotkin on the day, and impressed with his speed and stamina despite restricted movement of his right hand. He also emerged from the test with a plan to get back into Formula 1. Report here>>>

Amid speculation that Kubica had done enough to be considered for a drive with Renault, team chief Cyril Abiteboul has poured cold water on such an option.

"I know that the sport is full of speculation and rumours and all these things," said Abiteboul. "But I think in this present case we need to be a little bit careful, because we're talking about an individual that we all love, with a fantastic image, and who has suffered a very difficult situation from a personal perspective."

"We'll have at some point to discuss about our future line-up, that's public information. We have a long-term contract with Nico [Hulkenberg], and a contract for 2017, and all of 2017, with Jolyon [Palmer].

"But at some point we will have to review options. If by then, Robert becomes an option, we can have a look. As we speak, he's not on the list. He has many more things he has to accomplish so that he could be on the list."

"So I think I would ask on this occasion everyone to be a little bit careful. Yes, we have done that test, but we don't want to create expectations in anyone's mind, including Robert himself."

Abiteboul also pointed out that the test was in fact a feelgood exercise aimed at helping Kubica with his long-term recovery, lobbied for by the team's staff who had worked with the Pole before his horrific freak accident in 2011.

Abiteboul explained, "The fact of the matter is simple. You know that there is at Enstone a group of people composed of Bob Bell, Nick Chester, Alan Permane, all these people have known Robert as a driver, have worked with him, and over the years – including when Robert was completely outside of the radar – they have maintained contact with him."

"And that's something that they always discussed, what if, as a dream he was capable of driving again in this type of circumstance? We had this circumstance, we had this opportunity."

"This was a one-off, It's part of a process of recovery for Robert, where he's going to assess his limits – his physical limits, and also maybe his mental limits, what he has the appetite for going through also in terms of challenges, in terms of difficulties, in terms of risk, for himself for his image."

"He's also done F2, GP3, LMP2, Formula E, so he's done a number things, and this was also part of the programme. But I don't want to create an obligation on Renault or Robert that there is a next step," added Abiteboul.