Renault has announced that Poland’s Robert Kubica was joining the Formula One team in 2010 to replace Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso.
A statement from the French team described the BMW Sauber driver 24-year-old as ”one of the most talented drivers in Formula One who has already proved his skill and his ability to win races.”
”I’m very happy I will be joining Renault in the 2010 season,” said Kubica.
”I already enjoy privileged relations with the team having won the World Series by Renault in 2005.
”That victory gave me the opportunty to test for Renault in Barcelona which then enabled me to get a start in Formule One.
”I’m highly motivated and optimistic that together we can be at the front of the grid next year, and hopefully fighting for the world title.”
Kubica made his Formula One debut in Hungary in 2006, and has competed in 55 Grand Prix races, achieving his first win in Canada last year and eight podium finishes.
But he has struggled to rekindle that form this year after his team failed to provide him with a competitive car and he is currently 14th in the world championship standings with nine points.
The Pole, who is currently with the BMW Sauber team, joins young, but promising, Frenchman Romain Grosjean.
Renault were left reeling from a suspended ban imposed in September in a race-fixing scandal which saw team chief Flavio Briatore resign in disgrace after ordering Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in 2008.
But team principal Bob Bell said he was optimistic for the future.
”We’re delighted to welcome Robert,” said Bell.
”We’ve followed Robert’s career since he made his Formula One debut in 2006. He’s one of the most talented drivers of his generation.
”Renault have high ambitions and hope for the future of the team and we believe Robert can play a big role in fulfilling them.”
BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen paid tribute to Kubica.
”Robert played an important role for us, and certainly we did the same for him,” said Theissen.
”He joined us in 2006 as a test driver with no Formula One experience, and then we promoted him to be one of our team’s drivers during that season.
”He never let us down and, with our first pole position in 2008 in Bahrain and first victory the same year in Canada, he set milestones in the history of our team.
”We are grateful for his strong and constant performances and wish him all the best for his future.” — AFP
