Renault co-owner, Gerard Lopez, has insisted that he and the team want Robert Kubica back for the 2012 season, and they will do everything they can to assist him.
The Polish driver was injured in a rally accident in February and hasn’t driven competitively since, though his doctor and manager are certain he’ll be fit and ready for next season.
“We have removed the big question: not if, but when he can drive an F1 car,” said his doctor, Riccardo Ceccarelli.
Eric Boullier, Renault team principal, set a mid-October deadline for Kubica, but Lopez says that will be extended to early-November when an F1 car will be made available for the 26-year-old to ascertain his level of fitness and ability to compete.
“If someone like Robert Kubica is on the market then of course we want him,” Lopez told Auto Motor und Sport. “Our commercial model requires success on the tracks.
“We will look at the matter at the beginning of November. Robert will have an F1 car to show us what he can do.
“The data analysis is now so good that you can see with another car whether he is physically able to return.”
Lopez also revealed that Renault paid Kubica’s salary for 2011, despite him not competing in a single race.
“We have again this year paid Robert’s salary, although he drove no races for us.”
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