Robert Kubica

[Adam Wrong]

Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica risks losing the use of his hand after suffering multiple fractures to his right arm and leg in a high-speed crash on Sunday while competing in a minor rally in Italy.

Kubica, Renault's leading driver and a race winner in Canada in 2008 with his former BMW-Sauber team, was flown to a hospital near Genoa where surgeons got to work as soon as possible.

"After undergoing extensive medical checks this morning, Robert Kubica has been diagnosed with multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. He is currently undergoing surgery at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure," a Renault statement said.

His manager, Daniele Morelli, said at the hospital: "Surgeons are trying to re-establish the functionality of his right hand... but Robert is very strong and he will do it."

With little more than a month to go before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 13, the 26-year-old will almost certainly miss the start of the season and his entire career could be in jeopardy.

Renault have Brazilian Bruno Senna and France's Romain Grosjean as their official third drivers. Senna competed last season for the HRT team while Grosjean started seven races for Renault in 2009.

Neither has ever scored a point in Formula One and media reports quickly linked Germans Nick Heidfeld and Nico Hulkenberg to the possible vacant seat, although the latter is contracted to Force India as a reserve.

Renault's other race driver is Russian Vitaly Petrov, who made his debut last season but was eclipsed by a popular team-mate seen as a future champion by many.

The F1 paddock and world of motorsport at large was quick to send messages of support to Kubica, with other drivers using social network Twitter to express their shock and support for a fierce competitor who has already overcome considerable obstacles to reach the top on talent alone.

Kubica, Poland's first F1 driver and national sporting hero, was driving to the start of the Ronde di Andora event near Genoa in a Skoda Fabia when the car went off the road and hit a church wall.

Italy's ANSA news agency said the car had been taken in by police for checks, while a wet asphalt road that had tree roots sticking out was the most likely cause of the crash.

The co-driver, Jacub Gerber, got out unhurt. Kubica had to be extracted by firemen.

Kubica, a keen rally fan who has entered several events previously, tested the new Lotus-backed Renault in Valencia last week and ended the three days as the fastest overall.

The feeling in F1 was that his new car, with an eye-catching and innovative exhaust system, was a big improvement on last year's and could see former champions Renault again challenge for victories.

The Pole walked away virtually unscathed from a huge crash in Canada in 2007 but still bears the scars of a serious road accident as a passenger in 2003, which left him with titanium bolts in his arm.

The accident was sure also to raise a further debate about the wisdom of teams allowing their highly paid and prized drivers to risk everything in their recreational life.

Some teams take the view, however, that it is precisely those qualities, the thirst for speed and love of danger, that make a great racing driver.

Red Bull driver Mark Webber was the last to suffer such an injury, breaking his leg and shoulder in November 2008 after being involved in a collision with a car while cycling in Tasmania.

Last year, while leading the championship into the final races, the Australian fell off his mountain bike again and fractured his shoulder.

In 1990 Italian grand prix driver and race winner Alessandro Nannini, whose Benetton team went on to become Renault, had his right forearm severed in a helicopter accident. Although he had successful surgery, he did not race again in F1.

Poor guy hope he's ok

[Duckman]

The reports this morning said his hand was almost cut in half!  Absolutely horrendous sounding injuries.  Hope he can make a full recovery but if it's as bad as people are saying it'll be a big doubt he'll be able to drive in F1 again.

Poor guy.

Peace

Duckman

[Rob]

Damn, Kubica's one of my favourite drivers in F1 and has been since he came into the sport a couple of years ago... Something about him made me think he definitely had the talent to one day be a future World Champion. Hope he can pull through this!