Robert Kubica crashes and may be out for the whole 2011 season

Lotus Renault GP driver Robert Kubica suffered a heavy accident on Sunday morning at the Ronde di Andora rally. The Pole had to go through a seven-hour surgery and according to the medical staff he will probably miss the whole 2011 Formula 1 season because of the injuries he sustained.

Kubica lost control of his Super 2000 Skoda Fabia just a few kilometres into the first stage of the Ronde di Andora rally and crashed into a wall. Because of the impact a length of crash barrier penetrated the cockpit and hit Kubica, severely injuring the Pole’s right-hand side of his body.

After being removed out of his crashed Super 200 Skoda Fabia, Kubica was airlifted to the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure where he underwent a seven-hour operation due to his multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand.

The main concern with Kubica was his right hand which doctors feared to have to amputate at some time. Fortunately they managed to reattach the blood supply during a lengthy operation and hope that the repair will be successful.

Nevertheless Doctor Igor Rossello, a hand specialist, told local media that the recovery could last more than one year and that it would take several days for doctors to know whether the operation had been a complete success or not.

"We need to wait for a week at least to verify whether the hand survives," Dr Rossello was quoted as saying by Italian media. "The nerve lesions are the ones that leave us with the most question marks over the recovery of functions.

"Rehabilitation will be relatively long, probably one year. He came here with multiple traumas, with several associated injuries. He won't necessarily have to undergo further surgery on the hand, but he will if needed."

Jakub Gerber, Kubica’s co-driver got away uninjured and still has no idea what caused the accident.

"We were on the first four kilometres of the first special stage. I was looking at the notes and didn't notice that the car was skidding," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Only when we crashed I saw Robert holding his arm, and after a few moments he lost consciousness.

Although he has now lost his its lead driver for the year Renault team principal Eric Boullier has still defended his decision of letting Kubica enter the rally during the preparation phase of the 2011 season.

"We've let him do it because rallying is what he loves to do. Rallying is vital for Robert and for his sanity. Besides that, there is a reciprocal agreement. We knew the risks and so did he. We didn't want a robot or a corporate man for a driver," said Boullier.