Boullier: Kubica’s strength amazes doctors

Renault team boss Eric Boullier has given some more insight into Robert Kubica’s injuries sustained in the freak rally accident last month and how the Pole has stunned doctors with his mental strength.

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live the Renault boss said, “He surprised everybody at the hospital in Italy. All the doctors came to me and said they were amazed about how his mental state could be so strong, and he was even smiling – it was an example for the department.”

“He’s progressed very well, and his recovery is going as well as you would dream when in that state. It’s still very early, he’s just started his rehabilitation this week, and the hand and the elbow are two tricky parts that got injured in the accident,” said Boullier.

Since the horror accident during a club rally in Italy evidence has emerged how a barrier sliced through Kubica’s Skoda and in truth he is lucky to be alive.

Boullier went on to say, “He’s progressed very well, and his recovery is going as well as you would dream when in that state,” Boullier told BBC Radio Five Live. It’s still very early, he’s just started his rehabilitation this week, and the hand and the elbow are two tricky parts that got injured in the accident.”

The Frenchman explained, “We still need to wait a couple of weeks, I think, to have a clear understanding of the recovery. It’s not easy for him to understand [how the recovery] will go and now morale is difficult for him as well because obviously you realise how tough it will be to work and be back.”

In a twist of fate Kubica’s former BMW team mate Nick Heidfeld, who until recently was unemplyed by an F1 team, has been drafted into the squad as substitute.

“Nick fits very well with the team,” said Boullier. “It’s clearly an opportunity for him, and it was the right time for him. So far it’s not easy to step into the footsteps of Robert, but I think his experience and his commitment and his ambition made his integration into the team easier.”

Source: YallaF1

Lame explanations

Eric Boullier is talking himself into a corner so to speak because he still goes on about how seriously excited he was over the possibility to get Kimi Räikkönen as Robert Kubica's team mate.

First of all he claims that the initiative came from Räikkönen after Spa, when Kubica had drove his third podium position this season.

You don't have to be an Einstein to find Renault's first budding stories about their interest in hiring Räikkönen. They started particularly in Renault's camp. I myself asked Kubica in the press conference how it would feel to drive beside Räikkönen because of these rumours.

Then what about Boullier's justification that he didn't want to start any negotiations with Räikkönen until he clears up whether Vitali Petrov still would be skillful enough to continue in the team?

If even one top team gets the opportunity to snatch an active WDC to the team then they go for it with all they've got.

Logically thinking they would have proceeded with Petrov in this situation - where no better team is interested in him - so that they would have made it clear to the Russian driver that they are now negotiating with Räikkönen and if that doesn't happen they will discuss with him.

Summa summarum. When Bouillier is defending that the team did not use Räikkönen's name for their own marketing in order to bend Petrov's support groups to be more generous, they certainly succeeded very well especially by this way.

Thanks to Petrov Renault got in Singapore two new Russian sponsors for the rest of the season and now one more in Japan.

It feels like Renault's F1-team has charted out the maturity of Petrov's sponsors instead of his maturity before they would have started to discuss with Räikkönen.

TS/Heikki Kulta

Courtesy: Nicole

Räikkönen puts a stop to Renault's milking

Kimi Räikkönen who is known for his silence got finally fed up when Renault continues week after week speculating through the media about the Finnish star's possible switch back to F1 in their team.

– I am very disappointed in the way they have used my name in order to promote their own marketing. I have not at any stage considered seriously driving for Renault and I can assure you that I'm 100% sure that I will not drive in Renault next year, Räikkönen declares in his straightforward way.

– My managers were weeks ago once in contact with Renault's team manager. That's all, Räikkönen said.

Even though they haven't had any negotiations, Renault's camp has constantly been feeding the F1-media with stories about how Räikkönen is interested in their team. According to team manager Eric Bouillier the only thing slowing down the negotiations has been the uncertainity of the Finnish driver's motivation.

Although the big audience doesn't necessarily notice it, it isn't any campaign for open negotiations, it's clearly a team- and finance-policy.

Renault is a racing team lead by tycoon Gerard Lopez. For Lopez F1 is business and therefore it looks like they are riding on WDC Räikkönen's name for as long as possible until filling the other seat.

Räikkönen and his managers are used to not speaking in public about any negotiations before the contracts are sealed. Therefore the policy Renault has taken to chow down one short contact for several weeks has been both disturbing and shocking to them.

Turun Sanomat

HEIKKI KULTA

Courtesy: Nicole

Eric Boullier on Renault’s revival, Räikkönen & more

Renault have been one of the surprises of 2010. From a disappointing eighth place in the 2009 standings, they have bounced back under new management and, with just four races to go, are now vying with Mercedes for P4. Team principal Eric Boullier is convinced they will beat their German rivals. He also believes that Kimi Räikkönen’s interest in a possible F1 return with Renault shows just how seriously the Formula One community is taking their renaissance, as he explained exclusively to Formula1.com…

Q: Eric, Renault lie fifth the constructors’ championship. Four races into the season - when you were also fifth - you said that fourth was the goal for the end of the season. With four races to go, can you do it?
Eric Boullier: Ah, we are close to it. Our car has improved hugely since the start of the season and with all due respect to our competitors, I am optimistic that we can pull it off.

Q: Your rivals for P4 are Mercedes GP. Is there a bit of extra motivation knowing that seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher is part of the rival team?
EB: No, not at all. We want to be world champion one day and we don’t care against whom we succeed. Mercedes is one of the last manufacturers left in Formula One - that probably spices up the situation. On top of that they are the reigning world champions.

Q: At the start of the season did you really believe that you could be so successful in 2010? The team underwent a dramatic reshuffle over the winter…
EB: Somehow I did. I knew what the technical capacity of the team is and that we have good people that co-operate excellently together.

Q: Your predecessor Flavio Briatore never bothered with predictions about fourth places. For him it was winning or nothing. Does that weigh on your shoulders?
EB: I don’t want to comment on that. I only look at what I can achieve and that is very clear: I want to get Renault back on the road to success. That means to be able to fight for wins and be a contender for the championship.

Q: What role do your current drivers Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov play in that?
EB: Robert’s role is beyond any doubt. Vitaly has to show us in the four remaining races that he is the man we can hand over our second cockpit to in 2011 to follow our self-defined goal. If he fails to convince us he will not drive our car. If he satisfies us we will keep him. But we don’t put pressure on ourselves when it comes to our full driver line-up for 2011. Only one hint: we definitely will not wait until January.

Q: Is it only a question of performance? It is no secret that having a Russian on the grid is good for Formula One, and the Russian market must also be very interesting for Renault…
EB: I know that a Russian driver would be appreciated and Russia holds a huge potential for all companies present in Formula One. However, for us the performance of a driver is still the first criteria - and then the passport. Performance clearly wins over marketing potential because if a driver doesn’t deliver then the marketing potential is also limited. You must never put the cart before the horse, or at least we don’t. For a French driver the nationality would similarly not smooth his way into the cockpit if he was lacking performance.

Q: The rumour mill has suggested you could also be considering German drivers Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil as potential Petrov replacements…
EB: Now I have to choose my words very carefully. Let’s put it this way: we don’t have a direct contact right now and the door is not open yet, but we have signalled that it could open under certain circumstances.

Q: And there is still former world champion Kimi Räikkönen in the picture…
EB: He contacted us. But once again, our main issue at the moment is whether we should keep Petrov. Only if this question is negated we will look for replacement. Regarding Kimi, I would have to speak personally with him first, look him in the eyes to see if I see enough motivation there for him to return to Formula One. It doesn’t make sense to hire somebody - even a former world champion - if you cannot be sure that his motivation is still one hundred percent. Why should you invest in somebody who leaves you guessing?

Q: Aren’t you afraid that there will be no more competitive drivers available when you are finally ready to make a decision?
EB: That’s the risk, but that’s part of the game. If a driver thinks that he cannot wait that long - but we are not ready for a decision - then we will not come together. Above all I want the best for my team.

Q: Räikkönen’s interest seems genuine because he believes that he could win races with Renault. Is that flattering?
EB: Yes it is because it shows that the work we’ve done this season is noticed and that we are considered a challenger for the championship in the future.

Q: Does Robert Kubica have any influence on who will be his future team mate?
EB: It is important that there is good vibe in the team, because that is part of a successful package. I will ask Robert his opinion, but we will decide. We will choose a driver that the team needs and not Robert Kubica.

Q: Have you already considered the new tyre supplier Pirelli in the development of your 2011 car…
EB: …and that Nick Heidfeld who has done the initial tests for Pirelli should be first choice? Because he sits on important information and would without doubt give them to his new team? I think that Pirelli will inform all the teams in due course.

Q: What about the rumour that Renault is thinking of buying back a majority stake in the team?
EB: There is nothing to it.

Q: You now have almost a full season as a Formula One team principal under your belt. Has it been what you expected?
EB: Ha, Formula One turned out exactly as I guessed. You have to fight every single day. It’s definitely a full time job! The most important thing is that you are able to create unity in the team so that everybody is able to give the maximum.

Q: How big is the pressure from Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn?
EB: The biggest pressure comes from oneself. There are regular meetings where he is informed about everything concerning the team - and that is a very positive sign.

Source: Formula1.com

Boullier seeks to know Raikkonen's 'motivation' for F1 return

Eric Boullier has dropped some big hints about the possible identity of Robert Kubica's teammate at Renault in 2011.

The team is weighing up whether to keep Vitaly Petrov, the Russian rookie who is substantially financed, or push ahead with initial discussions with potential replacements.

The highest profile potential successor is Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who agreed to leave Ferrari at the end of last year and has since been driving full time in the world rally championship.

"Yes, Kimi has been in contact with us, but we're not yet in discussion," Boullier is quoted by Auto Hebdo in the Singapore paddock.

"It could be a scenario if we decide not to keep Vitaly.

"What is certain is that if we decide to go back into talks with Raikkonen, I want to meet him to really assess the true motivation for his return," added Boullier, amid reports the 30-year-old Finn is primarily looking to replace his Ferrari income that is soon to end.

"Whether it's Kimi Raikkonen or someone else, I want him to be super-motivated to race with us. Whether he's Finnish, Chinese or French-Swiss, he has to prove he is motivated," said Boullier.

The nationalities cited by Boullier almost certainly refer to Renault reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung (Chinese) and the newly Gravity-managed Romain Grosjean (French-Swiss).

Also linked with Renault have been Adrian Sutil, and Spain's AS newspaper reports that Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari has also been in contact with the Enstone based team.

Peter Sauber, Raikkonen's first team boss in 2001, told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat: "Personally, I'd be glad if Kimi came back. He is so different and talented."

Nick Heidfeld added: "He would be able to come back without the slightest problem. I have not been driving for a long time and yet I feel I have come back with exactly the same feeling."

And Kubica, Raikkonen's potential teammate, commented: "If I was in Kimi's position, I might stay in rallying.

"But I'm not saying that because I want him to stay there," added the Pole, who like Raikkonen is a rallying aficionado.

Source: Motorsport

Räikkönen's Renault interest 'flattering' - Boullier

Kimi Räikkönen's interest in driving for Renault next year is "flattering", team boss Eric Boullier has admitted

2007 world champion Raikkonen's manager last week confirmed reports the pair had spoken with Boullier about the vacant 2011 seat alongside Robert Kubica.

The 30-year-old Finn switched to world rallying this year after winning 18 grands prix with Ferrari and McLaren last decade.

"It's flattering," Boullier said in a French language report of the Agence France-Presse agency, "because it shows that our team is again attractive to a Formula One world champion."

After Fernando Alonso's titles in 2005 and 2006, Renault entered a period of decline that resulted in the French carmaker selling to Luxembourg based Genii Capital at the end of last year.

"Our simulations show that our car has improved by about 1 and 3/4 seconds between the first test and now. We have been one of the teams with the greatest progressions.

"That is a true source of satisfaction," admitted Boullier. "We have proved the team has the qualities to operate at the highest level."

Source: Motorsport.com

Carmaker Renault considers buying back F1 team

French carmaker Renault SA is reportedly considering buying back a majority stake in the Formula One team that bears its name.

Amid the car sales crisis and economic downturn, and the damaging crashgate scandal, Renault sold a rumoured 85 per cent of the Enstone based team last year to Luxembourg-based investment firm Genii Capital.

With its new owners, Renault F1 has fared better than expected in 2010, culminating in Robert Kubica's strong performance and third podium of the season so far at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend.

Finland's Turun Sanomat claims that Renault SA's financial situation has dramatically improved to the point that the carmaker is interested in returning wholeheartedly to F1.

The rumour ties in with ongoing speculation, also once again alluded to at Spa by new team boss Eric Boullier, that Kimi Räikkönen could return to Formula One next year with Renault.

Source: Motorsport

In for the long haul - exclusive Robert Kubica Q&A

Robert Kubica remains the insider’s tip for ‘champion of the future’. Currently sixth in the standings, he’s outperformed the likes of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa this season. Yes, rivals’ misfortune has helped him achieve that position, but he and Renault were there when others failed. Their cooperation has proved very fruitful - fruitful enough to persuade both to prolong it until at least the end of 2012…

Q: Robert, you’ve committed to Renault until 2012. That implies a pretty high level of confidence in the team. Can you name the cornerstones that led to this decision?
Robert Kubica: When I signed with Renault before this season I was looking for a good atmosphere and a good spirit - and of course an experienced team. Performance is still very important, in fact the most important factor, but nowadays it is pretty hard to tell about any future success. At the moment all I can say is that we work very well together and the result so far is that everything that was planned has been achieved. I am not speaking about results but about development and about developing the team and bringing it forward. As I just said before, it is difficult to predict future performance but I feel good at Renault and so it was an easy decision to stay with the team.

Q: True, Renault have made amazing progress this season - from a team that looked like disintegrating at the end of last year to one that is challenging the frontrunners and taking you to P6 in the standings. But is this enough for you?
RK: Of course you would like to have a winning car and be able to fight for victories and the title. I am level headed enough to know that right now that is not realistic for us, but we will go on pushing and I hope that one day we will be capable of fighting for wins. Formula One is changing very fast and who is hot and who is not is something that can change with every season, as we’ve seen pretty drastically this year. It is even hard to predict who will be the strongest team in the next five races, so how should it be possible to predict next season with regulation changes looming? I am looking forward to continuing working with Renault and don’t forget that we’ve only been working together for a few months.

Q: Is winning the title part of your pre-2012 plan, or does that come later?
RK:Of course I hope to be fighting for the title with Renault and you can be sure that the team would also love to be fighting for it - and best we start in the next couple of races! Staying realistic is what is needed now - and working very hard to be even more efficient and have everything under control. I am sure that a lot of people are surprised at what we have achieved already and that shows us that we are moving in the right direction. That makes me very confident for the future.

Q: Two podiums and a good chunk of points already this season. What are you expecting from the rest of the year?
RK: I can’t I look into the future, but except for Bahrain where I touched with
Adrian Sutil I’ve always been in the points. True, it’s always been difficult with podiums, but we are usually always right behind the podium positions and the gap is not really that significant. What is important is that we are consistent and that there are no real good or real bad tracks for us - the car performs well everywhere and I am looking forward to a working F-duct on the car because if the system is working properly it can give us a pretty good leap forward in our aim for podium finishes.

Q: This race marks the season’s midpoint. A glance at the driver standings suggests you may struggle to go higher in 2010 - or is there a ‘golden bullet’ of an upgrade on the way from Enstone for the second half of the year?
RK: All I can say is that we are moving forward pretty well - that’s the good news. The bad news is that others are moving forward too. The team will bring updates on a frequent basis, but being midseason with a fully finished car, the likelihood of a ‘golden bullet’ is pretty low.

Q: Looking at the standings, there are the two Red Bull drivers, the two McLaren drivers and one Ferrari pilot ahead of you. Who would you say could be the easiest prey for you?
RK: First of all I am very happy to be where I am. If other teams hadn’t had technical or driver issues it probably would look different. But we’ve used our potential and chances to the maximum and thanks to our consistency I hope that good form will continue. At the moment it is not so much about the position in the championship, but to improve the car and the team and to move in the right direction - and to have a firm eye on the development of next year’s car!

Q: It’s about at this point of the season that teams - and your boss Eric Boullier has indicated Renault could be among them - can reach a crossroads. Do you continue to focus fully on this year’s car, or switch emphasis to next season’s? How would you like to see this handled?
RK: Well, my favourite way of handling this situation would be to concentrate on both cars, to have more people working on them and to have a bigger budget. I know that such a decision is a tough one and to be honest I don’t have enough information to prefer one over the other - and I haven’t got enough experience to throw in my two pennies’ worth. In the end it will be a team management decision. I just hope that this year’s car will not be abandoned, as with some good updates still coming it doesn’t look too bleak for the R30.

Q: What part of the R30 do you value most - and what would you simply throw into the gutter?
RK: There are of course positive and negative sides to the car and of course it was much easier to point out the negative ones at the beginning of the year. But I have to say the boys in the factory did a fantastic job to improve our performance and from a driver’s point of view the car is very smooth and easy to drive, which helps a lot as it gives a good feeling on tracks that are bumpy or lacking grip. And I have to agree with what everyone says: that our most powerful tool is the good aerodynamics - the aerodynamic downforce. It is amazing how many improvements there have been.

Q: Your team mate is a rookie, which means that you are the ‘delivery driver’ in terms of constructors’ points for the team - a fact clearly illustrated by yours and Vitaly Petrov’s relative tallies. Would you rather have a bit more support? After all, more points ultimately mean more money and more performance…
RK: Personally I don’t think of points as money, but on the other hand I could understand if the team would want to have two drivers delivering points. And from a driver’s perspective it is always great if there is someone who is pushing you. Plus with little testing nowadays, when you basically do the testing on Friday mornings, it would help to have an experienced team mate who could test different things and you could then rely on his data and findings. Unfortunately Vitaly is a rookie and many times on the Friday he has to get acquainted to a new track, so sometimes I am lacking someone. The team has made the decision to run the second cockpit with a rookie and I am sure they did it in the best interest of the team - that’s how it is.

Q: Given their form this year, you must feel pretty glad to have departed BMW Sauber, especially as Peter Sauber has suggested that the car would not have been much different, even if BMW had stayed…
RK: I have to say that Peter Sauber has made a huge effort to be here and I admire and respect him for that. In winter testing their car looked much stronger, but unfortunately they could not keep up this pace in the races. If that would be the car I would drive had BMW not decided to withdraw, who knows? With a much bigger budget, as without doubt BMW would have had, the performance could look very different. For me I can say that I am very happy to be with Renault, even if at the beginning people were quite surprised that I committed to the team so early, with all the problems the team were facing.

Q: Two years ago you were leading the championship at one point in the season. When do you think you are going to be up there again?
RK: I hope as soon as possible! Maybe next year, maybe it might not happen again. It might be that from this weekend on I will win every single race - who can tell? When I get reminded about leading the championship two years ago I tend to tell them it is not enough to lead at some point in the season - you have to lead at the last chequered flag of the last race. That’s the only thing that counts!

Source: Formula1.com

Kubica offered Renault deal for 2011

Renault has proposed a deal that would see Robert Kubica stay at Renault in 2011, according to a French publication.

Auto Hebdo said the matter could be finalised shortly after this weekend's British Grand Prix due to the imposition of a mid-July deadline.

And Italy's Autosprint believes Kubica could even stay with Renault beyond 2012, but the 25-year-old reportedly "wants guarantees" about the Enstone based team's funding.

"We are determined to have Robert with us," team boss Eric Boullier is quoted as saying. "He knows our ambitions and our potential."

Source: Motorsport