Kubica feels ready to drive an F1 car again

The Pole, who suffered F1 career-ending arm injuries in a rally crash exactly six years ago, initially focused his competitive efforts on rallying but spent last year experiencing circuit racing again.

Now, he has just confirmed he will be competing in WEC this year with the ByKolles outfit

Kubica has stayed in touch with F1 developments in recent years too, having tried out a number of simulators including the Mercedes one, and even being offered an F1 test.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Kubica says he turned down the test chance at the time because he did not feel he would be capable of doing a good job – something he thinks would not be a problem now.

"Three years ago they offered me the chance to test an F1 car, but at that moment I didn't have the confidence to do well," he said.

"I know that often some chances only come one time, but I always wanted to be sure about my condition and what I can do. And if I was not sure, I always said to myself – forget it.

"My physical condition is not a common one, and few people have experienced similar circumstances. Everyone reacts in a different way, and that can be a very personal thing."

When asked if he would accept an offer to test F1 now, Kubica: "Yes. Today I would answer differently – I would like to try a Formula 1 car.

"It has been a while [since I drove one], so I would have to prove myself – but I think I could do it well.

"I would like to relive the thrill of the Formula 1 experience. I have tried many simulators, and I am convinced that I would drive at 80 percent of the F1 tracks – but not all of them.

"I also have to point that that testing a Formula 1 car is one thing – a race weekend is something totally different.

"In my last three seasons of F1, I managed to achieve a remarkable performance level – a level I think I lack a little bit of now.

"In 2010 with Renault, I think I did nothing wrong – and to get to that level of performance you have to work hard for so many years. In rallying I missed this aspect – the time that you need to prepare to be your best – as everything was done too quickly."

WEC future

Kubica thinks his move to ByKolles provides him with the perfect opportunity to learn his craft back on track at an international level, without the pressure of fighting for regular wins or the title.

He is convinced, however, that he is fully up to the job of competing back on the world stage.

"I was and am a racer, who in the past was used to working with great professionals," he said. "Today I'm starting a new path, and I must be able to adapt to different circumstances.

"In recent years I received many offers to race, but I always wanted at least one test prior to a race weekend before committing.

"I need to know that my body could cope, and I couldn't say yes without having the possibility of doing well. I wanted to know if I would face any difficulties, and understand how to deal with any problems. Now I feel ready.

"After the [2016 WEC] test in Bahrain, I checked the steering angle, and there should be no problems. Today I am certain to be performing at 90 percent. And the remaining 10 percent is a margin that I can bridge."