Renault have confirmed that Robert Kubica will replace Fernando Alonso at the team next season.
Pole to replace departing Alonso
Renault have confirmed that Robert Kubica will replace Fernando Alonso at the team next season.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Renault said they were "delighted" the 24-year-old Pole had agreed to join them, further lauding Kubica as "one of the most highly-rated young drivers in Formula One".
The driver himself said: "I am very happy I will be joining Renault in the 2010 season. I feel I have a special connection with this team because in 2005 I won the World Series by Renault. This gave me the chance to test with the team in Barcelona, which led to my debut in Formula One."
He added: "I share with Renault a strong winning mentality and feel comfortable with their friendly and open attitude. I'm highly motivated and optimistic that together we can be at the front of the grid next year and hopefully fighting for the world title."
Kubica will join them from BMW Sauber, for whom he emerged as a world championship contender last season.
Contender
He led the drivers' title following his first, and so far only, victory in Canada and remained in contention right through to the penultimate race of the season.
However, rather than support Kubica's title bid, BMW instead elected to concentrate on developing this season's car - a decision which has proved distastrous.
Despite their stated aim of a championship challenge in 2009, BMW Sauber have instead struggled with their F1.09 and currently lie eighth out of 10 in the constructors' championship.
BMW then announced in July it was it was withdrawing from the sport at the end of the season as part of a "strategic realignment" in favour of "sustainability and environmental compatibility".
Given Kubica's standing as a world champion-in-the-making, a number of teams were interested in securing his services, including Toyota and Williams.
However, he has elected to replace Alonso - a personal friend - at a team who, although lately mired in controversy in the wake of the so-called 'Crashgate' scandal, have a recent championship pedigree.
Ironically, Renault passed on Kubica's services after he tested for them in late 2005 and he was instead snapped up by BMW Sauber as their reserve driver.
He made his F1 race debut at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix and scored his first podium just two races later in Italy.
Renault team principal Bob Bell said: "We are very excited to have signed Robert with the Renault F1 Team starting next season. Ever since Robert made his Grand Prix debut in 2006, he has been on our radar as one of the most naturally talented drivers of his generation and he has delivered on that promise so it's great to have secured him in one of our cars next season.
"Renault has high ambitions and hopes for the future of the team and we feel that Robert can play a big role in fulfilling them."
Important
BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen acknowledged Kubica's performances for the team, which brought a total of eight podium finishes.
"Robert played an important role for us, and certainly we did the same for him," he said.
"He joined us in 2006 as a test driver with no Formula One experience, and then we promoted him to be one of our team's drivers during that season.
"He never let us down and, with our first pole position in 2008 in Bahrain and first victory the same year in Canada, he set milestones in the history of our team.
"We are grateful for his strong and constant performances and wish him all the best for his future."
