Formula One news

BMW thanks departing Kubica

The outgoing Robert Kubica has been thanked by BMW Sauber Team Principal Mario Theissen after Wednesday's news that the Pole would be moving on to Renault in 2010. With BMW having been bought by Qadbak, the team is struggling to make the grid for next year due to political reasons.

Having testing for Renault in 2005 following his championship-crowning moment in the French marque's World Series, Kubica made his Formula One debut in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix as replacement for Jacques Villeneuve; Robert scored two points in his first race in Budapest before later being disqualified for a technicality.

"Robert played an important role for us and certainly we did the same for him," Theissen said of the driver which took the team to victory in Montreal last season. "He joined us in 2006 as a test driver, with no Formula One experience, and then we promoted him to be one of our team's drivers during that season.

"He never let us down and, with our first pole position in 2008 in Bahrain and first victory the same year in Canada, he set milestones in the history of our team; we are grateful for his strong and constant performances and wish him all the best for his future."

"I'm very thankful to those responsible in the BMW Sauber F1 Team for giving me the chance to get a Formula One cockpit," Kubica added. "I think I justified the belief in me by delivering good results. In 2008 I managed to get the first pole position in Bahrain and the first win in Canada - both will remain unforgettable moments for me. For 2010 I will have a new challenge. I wish everybody I worked with at the BMW Sauber F1 Team all the best for the future. I'm sure in the future our paths will cross in Formula One."

The Hinwil team's own future, however, is less positive; in order for the newly-owned outfit to make the grid next year, all other 13 teams must agree to accept a 14th entry (against sporting regulations) - so far, Williams and Campos have both failed to do so.


See also:

- Bell: Kubica was always on Renault radar
- Official: Kubica to join Renault in 2010

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