Summer decision on Kubica's return

Kubica will finally leave the Santa Corona hospital - where he has been since his horrific rally crash in early February - in just over a week.

But when asked by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport about when it would be possible to predict Kubica's racing future, Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli replied: "We'll understand six months after the accident: we need to wait for nature to run its course even though, knowing Robert, we are confident in his recovery strength."

Dr Ceccarelli said Kubica would receive extensive support from the medical team during his rehabilitation process.

"Gym workout will help him feel like a racing driver again," he explained.

"We'll keep in touch with the people who have followed him these months, first of all Dr [Igor] Rossello, who operated on the right hand, but we'll also look for more specialists.

"We have set up a pool of at least four people able to follow him during his daily six-eight hours of work, and we are getting a special treadmill that allows you to put the load over the right leg only partially. Due to his hand, leg, shoulder and elbow, Robert combines three patients into one."

The doctor underlined that it was too early to be certain how well Kubica's damaged hand in particular would recover.

"Rebuilding the nerves is the longest process, so it's difficult to understand in the first four months what the recovery will be like," said Dr Ceccarelli. "He has good sensitivity, but not in every spot. The hand is there and will regain good functionality.

"The leg poses little problem. Robert places the load on the left one and has started to load the other one progressively."