Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica appears to have been a driver at the wrong place at the wrong time. When BMW Sauber chose to halt development of their 2008 car and instead focus all efforts on 2009, it really did seem like 2009 would be their year, and Kubica would have a championship-winning car. But things didn’t turn out quite like that, with the team performing badly and quitting at the end of a lacklustre 2009 season. Kubica thus made the switch to Renault for 2010.

Now, Kubica’s talent as a driver is not in doubt. From his very first race, replacing Jacques Villeneuve at the Sauber team in 2006 when he qualified ninth and finished seventh on the grid (later disqualified for having an underweight car), he was impressive. Let’s not forget, he even led the Drivers’ Championship in 2008 after a strong performance at the Canadian Grand Prix – his first win. But without a competitive car, the Pole hasn’t had much to smile about.

Now in his fourth full season in F1, there is a lot that Kubica will need to do - in terms of helping resurrect the Renault team post the Flavio Briatore-Pat Symonds era, as well as resurrecting his once promising career.