Kubica will miss start of new season

Robert Kubica has confirmed to the Renault team that he is currently unable to commit to driving in the 2012 Formula One World Championship.

The Renault team were keen to get an answer from the 26-year-old this month, so that they could move quickly to replace him if he was unable to return in time.

The Polish driver crashed a Skoda Fabia during the opening stage of the Ronde di Andora rally in Italy back in February.

His car crashed into a barrier which penetrated his car leaving him with a partially severed right hand and fractures to his right leg and arm.

In the days following his accident, the Pole underwent three operations and was put in an induced coma to help aid his recovery, it had been hoped that he wouldn’t require any further surgery, but in early March, Kubica had a fourth operation to help the mobility of his elbow.

After a month of rehabilitation the Renault driver underwent another large operation which was to remove adhesions affecting the functionality of his right forearm and elbow muscles and in August he underwent further elbow surgery in a bid to give him full mobility of his right elbow.

Surgeons were reportedly very happy immediately following the procedure and after a few days rest in hospital, Kubica resumed his rehabilitation an intensive training programme.

Kubica's management team have remained confident he would be able to race in Formula One again. But it would appear that the start of the 2012 season will come to soon for the driver.

“Even if I’ve been working very, very hard over the course of the last few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I am not yet certain to be ready for the 2012 season.' Kubica told lotusrenaultgp.com.

'I have called the team and I have informed them of the situation. This was a difficult decision to make, but it is the most reasonable one. I also know that LRGP need to prepare for next year, and further extending deadlines would not have been the right thing to do.

'On a personal level, my recovery is still very encouraging and my doctors keep being impressed. I just need more time, as I want to be 100% ready before I commit to anything driving related.

'Finally, I regret not having been able to provide more news and not having appeared in the papers, and I thank my friends of the media for understanding that this has been the best way for me to cope with what has been the most difficult period of my life.”

Renault have confirmed that this is certainly not the end for Kubica within the team.

A test car is ready for him when he feels he is ready to get behind the wheel and Kubica's management and the team have already begun talks about renewing his contract for the 2013 season.