Renault team principal Eric Boullier has clarified the situation in regards to Robert Kubica not being able to start the season, amid accusations from the Pole’s manager, Daniele Morelli.
In a statement on Wednesday, Renault confirmed Kubica wouldn’t be able to start the 2012 season with Renault, something the 26-year-old decided himself.
However, Morelli believes Renault twisted his words, instead Kubica meant he couldn’t make the pre-season tests, but hoped to be able to race toward the start of the year.
“I don’t understand why Renault has changed Robert’s words,” said Morelli. “It’s not true he won’t be ready for 2012: he stated he doesn’t have certainty that he will be in shape for the first tests in February.”
Boullier believes the situation is clear, if Kubica can’t test in February, there is no way he can race just a month later in Australia. He did however admit a problem with the translation of the document may have occurred.
“The situation is quite clear,” Boullier said. “We have a contract with Robert until the end of this year, terminating this year. This is why we are using our channel for the communication with him and we agree with his manager, Daniele Morelli, to issue a press release before this week, which was entirely approved by both parties before being released.
“The choice of the wording is my responsibility and I think the message was clear. We have waited for Robert. We would like Robert to be back. He informed us that, unfortunately, he would not be able to be at the first test, which means he will not be able to start the season for me, so that’s it.
“I think the issue came up that some translation maybe was wrongly done in the far East of Europe and the message was really that he would not be able to be back in 2012 which is not the message at all. The message was clear. He will not be at the start of the season, or the test if you want, but he may come back next year.”
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