Kubica `got away` from Renault – Symonds

Renault considers Robert Kubica to have been a driver with incredible potential that `got away` from the French team.

Kubica, BMW-Sauber`s 22-year-old racer who in recent Grand Prix has been a regular occupier of the front row of the grid and the podium, was earlier in his career closely linked with Renault.

As a teenager, he was part of the Renault driver development programme.

“At some point we were doing a bit of rationalisation about (the programme) and unfortunately we lost him,” Renault F1 engineering chief Pat Symonds says.

Later, in 2005, a 19-year-old Kubica won a test with the Formula One team as a prize for securing the World Series by Renault crown.

“After that drive, I was very, very keen that we follow on with him.

He really was most impressive in testing and I really wanted to do something with him,” Symonds added.

“He wasn`t too keen at the time, and of course later we found out that he was on the verge of signing a deal with BMW.

“I feel that he was one that got away from us,” Symonds said.

Source: GMM

9.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Kubica, Renault    ▪ en.f1-live.com