Renault team boss Eric Boullier has suggested that the loss of the team's lead driver Robert Kubica before the start of the 2011 season was the team's biggest blow in 2011, despite their oft-publicised car development issues.
The Renault squad suffered a disappointing 2011 season, despite scoring two podiums in the opening two races.
As the season progressed, the team's performances became steadily worse, with much of the blame pinned on their misguided efforts to develop a 'front-exiting' exhaust system.
But Boullier believes that the loss of Kubica, who missed the entire season after sustaining serious injuries in a pre-season rallying accident, was a bigger blow to the team's season.
"There was a direct sporting loss, which obviously was related to the speed, and was also a morale blow for the team and for everybody," he told the Autosport website when asked why Kubica was the team's big loss.
"But you had an indirect loss too - and this is one of the bigger values of Robert. It's mental strength, and also the commitment from the team to make it good and better.
"And this... we don't know how much it cost us, because maybe part of the development of the forward exhausts could have been done differently with the comments of Robert."
Kubica's current situation is up in the air. The Polish driver has confirmed that he will miss the start of the 2012 season, while Renault have signed Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.
Kubica could still return with the newly-renamed Lotus team, and Boullier has offered a dedicated test team to get him back up to speed.
However, reports have linked Kubica with a switch to Ferrari for 2013, and Boullier is unwilling to commit resources to Kubica's recovery if he then leaves the team.
The Polish driver has recently split with Riccardo Ceccarelli, the doctor who had been in charge of his rehabilitation.
Ceccarelli has been helping Kubica to recover from his injuries, including the one to his right wrist which required a number of rounds of surgery to reattach a 'partially-severed' hand.
But the two parties have split after disagreeing on the final stages of Kubica's treatment.
"I can confirm that there were differing views as to the next phase of rehabilitation," Ceccarelli was quoted as saying.
"Robert will continue with this process under the direction of someone else. Who it will be, I don't know."
As for the driver's chances of returning in 2012, he added: "I've always said that and I stand by it.
"[However] expectations that he could be back in a Renault in November were probably somewhat exaggerated."
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
