Formula One: Kubica signs a contract extension with Renault
Renault Driver Robert Kubica who was being strongly linked with Ferrari after some notable performances this season. He has finally put speculations to rest by committing his future to Renault and signed an extension to his contract that will keep him there till 2012.
The 24 year old said that regardless of the speculations and interest from Ferrari and other big teams it was still a simple decision for him to sign with Renault where he feels at home. Kubica has finished twice on the Podium and is lying 6th in the driver standings.
He is believed to be one of the young drivers making his way up in the ranks this season; he has finished all races in top ten apart from the first Grand Prix of the season that was held in Bahrain where he finished 11th.
The Poland driver was in spectacular form in the Melbourne Grand Prix, where he finished 2nd and on the testing track of Monaco he was 3rd, while finished the Valencia GP in 5th spot.
Ferrari had shown interest in signing him but once the Brazilian Felipe Massa signed a contract extension, the Italian team ended their pursuit of Kubica.
Robert Kubica said that for him the most important thing is to be in the right atmosphere, the group of people around him at Renault are very helpful and he feels totally at ease with them. Kubica went on to say that, every single person in the team is working for the same goal and he wants to be part of that team. He added that from the day he joined Renault, the plan was to take significant steps forward and till now pretty much, everything has been going according to plan.
The 24 year old said that the plans in place are long term and he would not want to start from scratch by moving at a new team now. Kubica said that he intends to be counted among the top 3 drivers in Formula one but that plan may take another season at least, so he is willing to fight it out and make his way up the ladder. The new rule changes introduced this season have benefited Renault and Kubica to a great degree. He is hopeful that the new modifications to racing conditions that take effect next year will help his driving style and he would be able to win races rather than being happy with just being on podium.
Eric Boullier the Renault team principal said the whole team is relieved and happy with Kubica’s decision.
Boullier said that, the team is extremely delighted and are looking forward to continue the good work for at least 2 more seasons. He added that the faith shown by Kubica is commendable and shows how much he believes in the team and our plans for the future.
The team principal went on to say that, yes, there were number of team interested in his services, but that is very normal in Formula one. As soon as a driver begins to make his way up, teams do queue up for him, but Eric believes that the time was not right for Kubica to make a move to the likes of Ferrari or McLaren. As he still has, plenty to learn and he cannot have a better platform to grow as a driver as he has at Renault.
The next race is in Britain at the Silverstone circuit, Kubica believes that he knows that circuit very well and can really take the next step this weekend. Considering the speculation about Hamilton and Button’s rivalry, he may yet have a chance to sneak ahead at Silverstone.
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