839 replies to this topic

[LIMAK]

After being thrashed by a rookie he is now a paid reserve driver for alfa romeo and that is something to be proud of and a great opportunity?

You're just not enough to think that someone who's done what Kubica has done in F1 and who's been through this hell of a time in Kubica, that after a useless season in a piece of junk like the W42, he's been one to throw in the towel? when circumstances make him negotiate a multi-million dollar contract with a good midfielder from the Ferrari family, really? And that one can' t be proud of that, you don' t understand that either, of course.

 

I see a new chapter in his history. The F1 journey isn't over yet.

Edited by LIMAK, 03 January 2020 - 00:07.

[Fatgadget]

You're just not enough to think that someone who's done what Kubica has done in F1 and who's been through this hell of a time in Kubica, that after a useless season in a piece of junk like the W42, he's been one to throw in the towel? when circumstances make him negotiate a multi-million dollar contract with a good midfielder from the Ferrari family, really? And that one can' t be proud of that, you don' t understand that either, of course.

Calm down dude. Robert is not the man he was early 2006. Now he is a journeyman with serious money background. Williams needed that money...So too Alfa Romeo.

[LIMAK]

Don't worry, I'm calm. I think many still underestimate Kubica. And you don't seem to understand that motorsport always needs both, money and talent. And Robert is gifted with
both. Undeniably.

Edited by LIMAK, 03 January 2020 - 00:29.

[ForzaFormula]

Don't worry, I'm calm. I think many still underestimate Kubica. And you don't seem to understand that motorsport always needs both, money and talent. And Robert has both. Undeniably.

So Russell must be the next Senna.

[Clatter]

Such fp1 drives are not only to evaluate young drivers and to give them some F1 experience. It is also important for the simulation drivers to have some actual experience of the car so they can better correlate this with the sim experience.

 

And if Kubica is indeed their reserve driver, it can't hurt to have some actual seat time with the car, just in case he has to replace one of the race drivers.
 

 

Which teams do that, just in case?

[noikeee]

Mick Schumacher has a Super Licence, if for some reason a driver would be unavailable due to illness or something similar I think they may be tempted to use Mick instead of Robert as a stand in (would be major publicity), I would prersonally pick Ericsson over him as well.

Not if he's fighting for the F2 title and the race clashes with F2. In those circumstances I think it'd be better for him and for the team to use Kubica or Ericsson indeed.

[steeng]

Well he will probobly get some testing opportinity and few FP1 drives.
Plus he can combine it with DTM racing.

What a waste.  Alfa Romeo should be using their reserve driver to bring young,new talent into F1. That's what it is meant for.

[steeng]

Mick Schumacher has a Super Licence, if for some reason a driver would be unavailable due to illness or something similar I think they may be tempted to use Mick instead of Robert as a stand in (would be major publicity), I would prersonally pick Ericsson over him as well.
 

 

I think that's the plan. Mick Schumacher will take over Kimi's seat when he retires in 2021.

[steeng]

Well it could turn out terrific for the team too. Kubica might really help development, the only thing possibly getting in the way could be if deep down he still wants to race, and the resulting frustration.

They have Kimi to aid development.  And Kimi is former World Champion and proven winner. All that Kubica is supposed to do is simulator work.   I hope that Alfa Romeo come to their senses and hire Mick Schumacher and give him those F1Ps instead of Kubica.

[steeng]

Really proud of Orlen for this brave move and great opportunity for Robert to unwind this williams misery. One thing is for sure - no matter what his performance is, it will shut up both arguing parties forever. Proving either of sides to be right or wrong.

 

It won't prove anything.  Kubica is slow because of his age and his disabilty.  You don't need to be quick to be a test driver. Luca Badour was Ferrari's test driver for a long time and he wasn't quick.

 

Edited by steeng, 03 January 2020 - 04:30.

[RA2]

 when circumstances make him negotiate a multi-million dollar contract with a good midfielder from the Ferrari family, really? 

 

 

Maybe an old connection from WRC helped

 

[miwost]

It won't prove anything. Kubica is slow because of his age and his disabilty. You don't need to be quick to be a test driver. Luca Badour was Ferrari's test driver for a long time and he wasn't quick.

If he gets the drive in 2021 based on his testing and fp performance it will proove a lot. His age is equal to Lewis.

Btw you completely missed the point of my post. It will work both ways - shut up either one or the other side of the barricade.

Edited by miwost, 03 January 2020 - 09:09.

[Steve99]

After a few days off, what a surprise to come back to this. Good for Kubica and his management for negotiating a decent job, and good for the Alfa/Sauber side for bagging a decent sponsorship package. One would not have happened without the other. I wouldn't get your hopes up about this being a route for Kubica to get back in a race drive - again - as there are too many good youngsters waiting their turn. Good luck to him though.

[Taxi]

Poor Alfa thread, they are gonna get criticised for unfair treatment etc soon. 

 

 No worrries, there are Kimi fans there. We are old experienced gangsters. 

[pdac]

Don't worry, I'm calm. I think many still underestimate Kubica. And you don't seem to understand that motorsport always needs both, money and talent. And Robert is gifted with
both. Undeniably.

 

The trouble is there are lots of others that are too.

[LIMAK]

Why should that be a trouble? The market can handle it. And the lively interest of at least three teams, respectively his contract with AlfaSauber, shows that the RK share is not that bad. 

[Myrvold]

Regarding Alfa/Sauber, they've already got their race drivers sorted and don't need Ericcson's backers if they've got Orlen. 

 

Worth noting, that it is still the same people who is behind Ericsson and all his backing in everything he has done for the last 15 years, who still owns AlfaSauber. I haven't seen any reports that Alfa did take the option to outright buy the team.

[Mohican]

Worth noting, that it is still the same people who is behind Ericsson and all his backing in everything he has done for the last 15 years, who still owns AlfaSauber. I haven't seen any reports that Alfa did take the option to outright buy the team.

This is clearly neither about Kubica nor Ericsson, it is about the Sauber’s owners and management having secured two big sponsorship deals for the F1 team in two years.

Very good given where Sauber was before, to say nothing of how others are doing.

[Steve99]

Why should that be a trouble? The market can handle it. And the lively interest of at least three teams, respectively his contract with AlfaSauber, shows that the RK share is not that bad. 

 

I think it's great that Kubica has a sponsor willing to buy him a seat. If you're true to yourself, whether you're the most die-hard fan he has or not, the simple fact is he wouldn't have this contract but for the money. That's life, it's the way it goes for once-great racing drivers, which is what Kubica certainly is. What I'm interested to hear is whether they are required to give him any actual seat time, FP1 and so on, as I don't think it's been mentioned yet? If not, what's the point for him? I can't really see time in a simulator extending his career, and hope that he is not prevented from racing elsewhere, should the opportunity arise. Money talks.

[Sterzo]

Worth noting, that it is still the same people who is behind Ericsson and all his backing in everything he has done for the last 15 years, who still owns AlfaSauber. I haven't seen any reports that Alfa did take the option to outright buy the team.

They haven't bought the team, and the probability of increased investment in the short term is quite remote. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are in the throes of merging with Groupe PSA (Peugeot) and there are huge decisions to make about where they want to position the various brands, of which Alfa Romeo is one of the most difficult.

[Mohican]

In which case this is perhaps an illustration of Sauber hedging their bets for the future.

[CSF]

They haven't bought the team, and the probability of increased investment in the short term is quite remote. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are in the throes of merging with Groupe PSA (Peugeot) and there are huge decisions to make about where they want to position the various brands, of which Alfa Romeo is one of the most difficult.

 

Maybe it will become Peugeot. Kimi and Robert would suit a Peugeot in 2020 to be fair....

[Mohican]

Peugeot will be in the WEC, Citroën has withdrawn from the WRC.

[hansmann]

Right now it is Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Germany and Canada

 

Good luck selling anything in Germany, with Kubica promoting it .

Or Canada .

 

One day Orlen will wake up to the realities of international commerce, and realise how much they've lost by backing a driver solely based on his nationality .

[NoForumForOldPole]

Good luck selling anything in Germany, with Kubica promoting it .

Or Canada .

 

One day Orlen will wake up to the realities of international commerce, and realise how much they've lost by backing a driver solely based on his nationality .

 

 

You got it all wrong mate, Orlen sponsors Alfa Romeo not Kubica, they just gained access to Kimi Raikkonen, you know the most popular F1 driver, rings a bell? And potentially somebody called a Schumacher next season. They have also kept Bob (perfect for domestic market).

 

Have you ever heard of Orlen before they were in F1? No? You do now. And soon you will see Kimi pumping gas into his Alfa at Orlen station.

Edited by NoForumForOldPole, 05 January 2020 - 15:37.

[Mohican]

You got it all wrong mate, Orlen sponsors Alfa Romeo not Kubica, they just gained access to Kimi Raikkonen, you know the most popular F1 driver, rings a bell? And potentially somebody called Schumacher next season. The have also kept Bob (perfect for domestic market).

Have you ever heard of Orlen before they were in F1? No. I do know.

Agree with all of this. To the point.

[Myrvold]

This is clearly neither about Kubica nor Ericsson, it is about the Sauber’s owners and management having secured two big sponsorship deals for the F1 team in two years.

Very good given where Sauber was before, to say nothing of how others are doing.

 

Well, the thread is about Kubica... And it was in regards to Orlen money, and Kubica v Ericsson in that respect.

So, it clearly is about Kubica, and a tiny bit about Ericsson - No need to get so overly sore and/or defensive about everything Sauber/Alfa...

[pdac]

Well, the thread is about Kubica... And it was in regards to Orlen money, and Kubica v Ericsson in that respect.

So, it clearly is about Kubica, and a tiny bit about Ericsson - No need to get so overly sore and/or defensive about everything Sauber/Alfa...

 

Yes, the thread is about Kubica. The discussion had gone off on a tangent. Hopefully we can discuss what Kubica will be doing at Sauber rather than how he got there and why Sauber might have signed him up.

 

To that end, I'm not convinced that he's been given any guarantee about running in free-practice. I think if there were anything in the deal, he might have mentioned it in his personal statement.

[Mohican]

Well, the thread is about Kubica... And it was in regards to Orlen money, and Kubica v Ericsson in that respect.
So, it clearly is about Kubica, and a tiny bit about Ericsson - No need to get so overly sore and/or defensive about everything Sauber/Alfa...

And I am saying that the DEAL is about sponsorship first and foremost, not about Kubica as a driver. Unless something unexpected and serious happens he will not be a driver for Alfa Romeo, that is pretty clear.

Bringing Ericsson into discussion is both unnecessary and irrelevant. What ever made you think that Orlen is a question of Kubica vs Ericsson ? Talk about being sore and defensive; you are the one who has a hang-up about Ericsson.

[MaGiK]

I'm not convinced that he's been given any guarantee about running in free-practice. I think if there were anything in the deal, he might have mentioned it in his personal statement.

I rememember seing an interview with Orlens CEO basicly confirming FP1 runs for Robert.
Chinchero lately wrote that we will see RK in car allready in pre-season testing.

[Steve99]

I rememember seing an interview with Orlens CEO basicly confirming FP1 runs for Robert.
Chinchero lately wrote that we will see RK in car allready in pre-season testing.

 

Alfa make no mention of it in their announcement, nor do Orlen.

[hansmann]

You got it all wrong mate, Orlen sponsors Alfa Romeo not Kubica, they just gained access to Kimi Raikkonen, you know the most popular F1 driver, rings a bell? And potentially somebody called a Schumacher next season. They have also kept Bob (perfect for domestic market).

 

Have you ever heard of Orlen before they were in F1? No? You do now. And soon you will see Kimi pumping gas into his Alfa at Orlen station.

 

Well, I still don't kow what that Orlen thing is, and have zero interest to find out .

Obscure companies have tried the F1 sponsorship game before, without leaving an impression .

 

As for Alfa and Kimi, if I understand you correctly they are now owned by an Orlen or something, and do Kimi and Ferrari know about this already ?

Those guys are played like fiddles by the F1 teams .

[Myrvold]

And I am saying that the DEAL is about sponsorship first and foremost, not about Kubica as a driver. Unless something unexpected and serious happens he will not be a driver for Alfa Romeo, that is pretty clear.

Bringing Ericsson into discussion is both unnecessary and irrelevant. What ever made you think that Orlen is a question of Kubica vs Ericsson ? Talk about being sore and defensive; you are the one who has a hang-up about Ericsson.

The deal wouldn't happened if they hadn't taken in Kubica as well.

Did you even bother to see what I answered in the initial post? "Regarding Alfa/Sauber, they've already got their race drivers sorted and don't need Ericcson's backers if they've got Orlen. " Was what I was quoting. I made a post directly relating to the ownership of the team as it said they "don't need Ericsson's backers". It shouldn't be that hard to see tbh...

[Steve99]

Well, I still don't kow what that Orlen thing is, and have zero interest to find out .

Obscure companies have tried the F1 sponsorship game before, without leaving an impression .

 

 

 

I don't think 20billion Euro turnover and employing 20,000 people is obscure. Orlen is a relatively new player in the oil and petrol market, but one that appears to have a pretty sound business base. 

[pdac]

Well, I still don't kow what that Orlen thing is, and have zero interest to find out .

 

Then don't comment.

[William Hunt]

Not if he's fighting for the F2 title and the race clashes with F2. In those circumstances I think it'd be better for him and for the team to use Kubica or Ericsson indeed.

 

Not all races clash with F2

[Fatgadget]

Then don't comment.

I am not sure these forums work like that!

[BobbyRicky]

I propose that everyone votes GigaKubica as DOTD in Australia, even tho he wont drive.

[pdac]

I am not sure these forums work like that!

 

Yeah, I know.

[PayasYouRace]

We know what’s next for Robert Kubica then. He’s going to be Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver. So that’s the remit of the thread fulfilled. As we don’t allow driver threads, discussion of Robert can continue in an appropriate Alfa a Romeo thread.