Renault have confirmed Robert Kubica will continue to drive for them until the end of the 2012 season.
Kubica said:
It was a straightforward decision for me to continue with a team where I feel at home.
What’s important for me is to be in the right atmosphere, with a good group of people, where everybody is pulling in the same direction. This is what we have tried to build from the beginning of my time with Renault.
Team principal Eric Boullier said:
There have been many rumours surrounding his future in recent weeks, which were a tribute to how well he has driven this year, and we are very happy to have agreed a multi-year deal.
Our clear goal is to become title contenders over the next two years. To do so, we need a driver of Robert’s calibre: somebody who is fast, totally committed and doesn’t make mistakes. His performances during the first half of the 2010 season were flawless, and we hope to achieve great things together in the future.
Robert Kubica
With Felipe Massa having extended his Ferrari contract for two more years and Mark Webber set to stay at Red Bull, there were few other places for Kubica to move to next year that might offer him a better car than the one he enjoys now.
Renault have surprised many by bouncing back in 2010. Kubica is sixth in the points standings ahead of Massa and both Mercedes drivers.
Read more: 2011 F1 drivers and teams
Image (C) Renault/LAT
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
7th July 2010, 12:17
Awesome news, if he can develop that car then I think Renault will be able to clinch a championship in the next two years. I hope Petrov is given another chance to stay with the team, his performance so far this season just deserve his seat with the team for 2011.
wasiF1 (@wasif1)
7th July 2010, 12:21
Chances of Kimi coming back in F1 in 2011 is getting slim.
Mike
9th July 2010, 22:39
I think they were less than slim, maybe in another year or two. But I think right now, he seems quite focused on WRC.
Damon
7th July 2010, 14:06
I hope they get rid of Petrov. Come on! The guy is useless.
His results this season have been very poor:
Ret, Ret, Ret, 7, 11, 13, 15, 17, 14
After 9 races already this season he’s not a rookie anymore and should be using the car to its full potential – a car that is capable of scoring points in each race.
damonsmedley
7th July 2010, 15:15
I don’t mind Petrov actually. He is aggressive which is great for the sport. He crashes a bit but I think he is getting the hang of it now. If he can find a balance where he is aggressive but not overly prone to becoming involved in accidents I would love to see him stay!
wasiF1
8th July 2010, 4:42
I do agree that when you compare him with Kubica’s performance then he haven’t done anything good, but I do think that guy deserve another driver may be that is coming from the heart.
BBQ2
7th July 2010, 12:18
A 2-year extension is good for both parties as Kub will settle down now for more racing than guessing into the future……. BTW, this will tally with the exit of Massa at Ferrari or Alonso?…….. who knows ;-)
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2010, 15:34
And Schumi at Mercedes! So we can expect 2012/13 silly season to be pretty exiting, multiplied by having potentially new wheel diameters and new engine suppliers wanting to come in, all of which make for a guessing game who will be where in 2013!
Patrickl
8th July 2010, 13:22
Alonso and Button were on a 3 year deal too. Hamilton as on a 5 year deal starting 2 years ago.
All Ferrari and McLaren seats would be open for change for 2013
Vettel’s contract runs till 2013 too, but apparently Horner is trying to strike an early deal and keep him for an extra 3 years.
James
7th July 2010, 12:19
no surprise here,nowhere else to go.
gonna be a quiet drivers market this year and hopefully Kubica can continue his great start to 2010,driver of the season so far
jbstans
7th July 2010, 12:21
Great news! I think they’re a really good fit and I think they can bring eachother right up to the sharp end of the competition.
Cyclops
7th July 2010, 12:32
Nothing surprising here, an obvious decision taking into account both Renault’s development rate and Kubica’s driving. Good for both parties.
As far as the silly season goes, the gossipers will have to focus on Schumi and Kimmi. Poor guys ;)
Raf
7th July 2010, 12:33
Keith,
How do you know that?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th July 2010, 12:34
Renault just announced it.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
8th July 2010, 4:52
Here’s me thinking you had a pet octopus and put a Ferrari and Renault model in its tank!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th July 2010, 12:35
I think there’s a lot to like about post-Briatore Renault and I’m glad Kubica’s sticking with them.
If it increases our chances of seeing more of the best drivers in the best cars that can only be a good thing as far as I’m concerned.
Tango
7th July 2010, 12:49
I hope Renault reclaims full control and invests all the money it can afford to in the team. A shame to be such a great name and trail with a pay driver (albeit a good breed). I also hoped Renault could cash in on their F1 legacy and at last produce decent sportscars (CLIO F1… seriously…)
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2010, 15:35
Why should Renault do that right now. They will be eager to have Genie do that for them (Invest and build up the team) and lend it their name. Good return on investment for both.
Todfod
7th July 2010, 12:50
For some reason I’m just not too thrilled with Kubica sticking around with Renault for a couple of more years. I feel he has the potential to get a better drive by the end of 2011. Either Webber, or a struggling Schumache,r would throw in the towel and pave the way for Kubica in a more formidable team. I am just not convinced that Renault would be able to give him a race winning car within the next couple of seasons, but any of the current top 4 teams might give him the car.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th July 2010, 15:02
Well, we all know what can happen with contracts in F1. After all Raikkonen was supposed to be driving a Ferrari this year.
phoros
7th July 2010, 16:39
“the current top 4 teams” – you mean of course RedBull, McLaren, Ferrari and Renault?…
Todfod
7th July 2010, 16:51
Mercedes. I’m going by the points standing in Constructors.
No offense to Renault, as I know they are fighting Mercedes for 4th. In the long run Ross Brawn counts for Mercedes being in the top 4 teams.
phoros
7th July 2010, 23:10
I know, it was a little bite, I’m sorry. But I’m surpriced that there are still talking about “the great 4” as we know them though Renault lately clearly outpaces Mercedes. Standings are misleading here because Robert scores alone.
Patrickl
8th July 2010, 13:27
Yeah it’s more like there is a top 3 and then the group of Renault, Mercedes and Force India.
Even Williams could be ahead of Mercedes after the last round of updates.
J
7th July 2010, 13:01
He didn’t have any choice really. All the good seats are taken.
spezza
7th July 2010, 15:40
Who knows which seat will be good in the next two seasons, heh? Maybe he chosen the best one? Who knows?!
Anyway I’m very happy. It’s something in this “new” RF1 team that makes I like them more and more.
Go Renault, Go Bob!
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
7th July 2010, 13:05
The future of F1 is looking very interesting indeed! We could potentially have all of the best drivers in F1 racing for different teams and challenging for the championship:
McLaren- Hamilton
Red Bull- Vettel
Ferrari- Alonso
Renault- Kubica
Mercedes- Schumacher*
*controversial choice given his current form, I know, but it’d be silly to right off a 7 times champion too soon, the potential is there if he can sort out his current issues
Steph90 (@steph90)
7th July 2010, 13:27
Actually I think part of the joy is not just that the top guys are in top cars but they generally all have top or at least competitive teammates.
Vettel has no clear edge over Webber.
Button lacking on pace slightly perhaps but can give Ham a run for his money.
Massa he’s been ahead at times but I expect/hope he’ll be much better next season.
Rosberg- not a fan myself but on his day he can be quick and many people seem to rate him.
Renault is the only odd one because Vitaly is a rookie and Renault are perhaps looking to build the team around Robert anyway.
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2010, 15:36
Maybe they succeed in convincing Kimi to give them a year of his time?
sato113 (@sato113)
7th July 2010, 14:05
i don’t understand how that is the ‘future od F1’ when that’s the lineup right now ned!
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
7th July 2010, 15:07
Yeah but now they’re all under contract for the next 2 and a half seasons at least, so we know what the line up will be for a while yet
Todfod
7th July 2010, 14:09
Would have to disagree with Mercedes having Schumacher as their #1 driver. I expect Rosberg to destroy him in the same machinery.
Steph90 (@steph90)
7th July 2010, 13:24
Let the Kubica to Ferrari for 2013 rumours commence!
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
7th July 2010, 13:30
This is great news and I don’t see why Renault can’t be winning again in a year or two. They were hit hard by losing Michelin tyres and they developed well throughout 2008. The R29 was a dog but like many other teams they were led astray by KERS and the whole crashgate thing can’t have done anything for morale. Now with fresh management and fresh drivers the team could be on their way back to the performance they showed 5 or 6 years ago. If they can sign someone like Glock or Heidfeld then that would make them very much a force to be reckoned with again.
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2010, 15:38
I hope they do all of that, or maybe get Kimi to give it a go with them (don’t believe he will, but it would be exiting)
F1withMySon
7th July 2010, 14:21
He’s a top-level driver, very talented. Wish him the best of luck for the next two seasons. Go Robert!
damonsmedley
7th July 2010, 15:18
I hope he can be a championship contender again soon – especially with the improvements Renault are making.
silencer
7th July 2010, 14:36
there’s a report that Renault owner Gerard Lopez is keen to get Kimi for the replacement of Petrov
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
7th July 2010, 15:09
Will Buxton reckons they want Jacques Villeneuve. Would be interesting, though I think there are way better drivers out there than JV
Robert McKay
7th July 2010, 16:08
Legard tweeted they are interested in Glock and Kovalainen.
I suspect those are more realistic choices than Kimi and better options than JV, who has been out of the game too long.
James_mc (@james_mc)
7th July 2010, 20:23
I liked JV. I think he got bogged down in the playboy lifestyle etc post-Williams and got stuck at a poor team too. But yeah, out of the game for too long now I fear.
charles fox
7th July 2010, 14:43
am i alone in wondering what on earth Renault and Gravity are doing running sooo many younger drivers at lower levels in various series’ when they’re clearly focused on Kubica and then geting another half decent/decent/at least F1 experienced driver in to go beside him. surely it’ll be di grassi/glock/senna/raik before some of their many younger drivers?
BasCB (@bascb)
7th July 2010, 15:39
They know that Robert will not stay if they fail to give him the equipment to do as they plan and might leave anyhow if he could get a Ferrari deal.
So having a lot of guys to evaluate and get one or 2 of them ready in the next 1-4 years might be the smart thing to do.
Flippy PK
7th July 2010, 15:02
i see kobayashi or sutil replacing petrov, kobayashi would be a good choice because he knows bouiller from his time at dams.
US_Peter
7th July 2010, 19:57
That would be fantastic if Kobayashi could get a seat with them.
Magnificent Geoffrey
7th July 2010, 23:40
This news pleases me.
I hope that their relationship proves successful over these next three years!
pawelf1
8th July 2010, 9:52
Great news for the sport, we need more drivers who want to drive and not talk so much like Robert
Fixy (@)
9th July 2010, 11:40
2012 – The year that also Felipe Massa’s contract ends. Still hpoing for that drive in Ferrari (deserved).
Alonso_fan
29th November 2011, 16:13
Raikonnen and Petrov have already been confirmed for 2012