With news of Robert Kubica being given the opportunity to test the current 2017 Renault car during a two-day test after the Hungarian Grand Prix, there is now a question on many people’s lips. Could Kubica take Jolyon Palmer’s seat for the remainder of the season?
In his former grand prix career, the Pole was a revered talent, claimed by the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to be one of the ‘very best’ they’ve raced against. After his tragic rallying accident in Andorra, his Formula 1 career looked all but finished.
This has all changed after the 32-year old has completed two tests in the 2012 Renault E20 in the past two months, with his pace to reported to be seriously fast and consistent.
His ultimate test will come in the form of the Hungary test in the RS.17 due to the nature of the brutal delivery from the hybrid power unit and uprated aerodynamic performance thanks to the new regulations.
Should Kubica continue to show his pace in a current car, I believe it is very likely he could be brought in to replace Palmer for the rest of the season, beginning with the Belgian Grand Prix after the summer break.
Renault’s plight in the constructors’ championship is increasing with every passing race, Nico Hulkenberg has scored all 26 points for the team thus far, given the pace the RS.17 is capable of, it is currently quite a poor return for their efforts.
With Haas and Toro Rosso ahead of them despite at a pace disadvantage to them, the increasing frustration is likely becoming too hard to bear within the walls of the Enstone factory and the time to take action is near.
Should Kubica be placed in Palmer’s stead, it is likely he’ll be able to match Hulkenberg’s pace and try to bring the team into a more competitive position on the grid and be more likely to secure the points because of it.
Despite what Palmer could be bringing to the team in terms of funding, the loss of not finishing higher in the constructor’s table could be more than what the Briton is injecting into the team, therefore it would be a loss overall. While Kubica may not necessarily bring much money to the table, his raw talent could make up for the fiscal deficit and bring Renault into a more competitive position.
Given the Pole is more of a senior driver having already competed in 72 races including taking a race victory, some may see this scenario as detrimental to Renault’s own development program which GP3’s Jack Aitken, F2’s Oliver Rowland and Nicholas Latifi are all part of.
It may appear this way, but how could Renault pass up the opportunity to utilise the speed and experience Kubica could bring to the team?
While other F1 drivers have been linked to Palmer’s seat, such as Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, Kubica has snuck up on the driver market from the realms of impossibility to bring himself completely into contention for a full-time seat.
Should Kubica prove himself in his run out in the RS.17, Renault will be given more options to consider from Spa onwards.
Do they keep Palmer in the hope he can improve, but risk further losing touch with Williams and finish further down the order than the pace of the car deserves? Or do they take a risk with a known talent in Kubica and push onwards to progress as they have aimed to do?
After his first test with the team in June, Kubica said: “It has been a long time away from the paddock and I have been through difficult periods, I kept working hard and a few years ago I felt it was impossible. I have mixed feelings, I am proud with what I achieved today, but also it shows what I have lost.
“I don’t know what the future will bring, but I know one thing, after working for more than one year to prepare for this, I ran with good pace and consistent in difficult conditions. It is not easy after six years, but I knew I could do the job and I can be satisfied.”
While he may have said these words in the wake of his first test, it is clear he is not done with F1 and is determined to give it his all to make a return. Will this be at the expense of Jolyon Palmer ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix? I feel it could be a very likely scenario and one which shouldn’t be ruled out.
