Briatore Says Kubica Will Race in 6 Months

After Fernando Alonso, former F1 manager Flavio Briatore decided to pay Robert Kubica a visit in the hospital the other day. While still in intensive care following the induced coma he was subject after Sunday's hand surgery, the Pole enjoyed visits from his father and best friend in F1, after which Briatore wanted to have an eye-on-eye meeting with the Pole.

And if we are to trust the Italian manager, the visit went all right, especially since Briatore seems to know something that the doctors have failed to see in recent days. While the most optimistic verdict from the Italian medical staff indicates Kubica will stay outside an F1 car for at least a year, Briatore says the Pole will be out and running in less than 6 months.

“I've found him well, compared to the terrible crash he's had,” Briatore told the Italian media, as reported by Autosport. “I'm very happy he has improved and I'm glad I came to visit him and exchanged a few words with him.”

“Kubica is an extraordinary guy with great potential of recovery. We didn't talk about the crash itself, but more in general about Formula 1 and his chances to come back to racing soon. Considering his ability to recover and his fitness, I bet he'll be back in good form within five or six months,” further predicted the former Renault boss.

The doctors are so far avoiding to make a definitive prediction on Kubica's recuperation period, especially since the Pole will undergo a further surgery later this week. However, it is possible for racing drivers to recuperate faster than regular people, as experience has shown hand specialist Dr Igor Rossello that this could happen.

“Racing drivers are exceptional people, able to slash recovery times. I had a patient who recovered 90 per cent of the hand's functionality,” he said.

Fernando Alonso also gave his best wishes to Kubica when visiting him in the hospital on Sunday night, saying that no matter the rivalry on the F1 track, F1 racers have always shown solidarity outside of it. Alonso and Kubica are known to be great friends within the F1 paddock.

“A crash is always a crash. This sort of dramatic event can happen anywhere, not just on the track and not just in competitions. The risk is always there. There is usually rivalry in F1, but sporting closeness too. On the track they're ready to better their rivals, but outside the circuits maximum solidarity is shown among drivers,” he said.