1997 Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve believes the return of Robert Kubica, while “great” should not have been possible.
The Pole is back on the grid at Williams eight years after a devastating rally crash left him with a partially amputated right arm, something that does restrict his ability to drive.
And though his pace in Australia was some way down on teammate George Russell, the effort it has required for Kubica to achieve it isn’t lost on the Canadian.
“It is, of course, a great achievement that Kubica has returned after so many years, really unbelievable,” Villeneuve is quoted by Dutch publication Formule 1.
“If you have done something that you love and that you have taken away, you know what you are missing. Then you will work even harder to get it back.
“I am also sure that he will do everything he can to stay at the top. If I were in his shoes, I would do the same. You should not let such a chance pass.”
The now outspoken pundit argues, however, that the mere fact Kubica can still drive an F1 car is just another example of how easy today’s machines are compared to their predecessors.
“I think it’s terrible. This is not good for the sport,” he said of the comeback. “I already said that last year and I am not going to change my opinion.
“Formula 1 should be the pinnacle of racing, it’s the king class. So it is not good for the sport if someone with a disability, because that’s what it is, can participate.
“At least not in F1, perhaps in other classes. F1 must be difficult and almost unreachable and Robert’s return is not the right message.”
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Speaking last week, however, another former driver in Timo Glock downplayed Kubica’s situation.
“Of course driving with one hand is a disadvantage compared to driving with two,” he told Auto Bild. “But I looked at the times carefully and at times he was on Russell’s level.
“I know this from my own experience. When you drive for such a bad team, it’s about where and how you are lapped and how much time you lose.”