Q & A with Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica: Well, yes and no. It's very good that BMW and Sauber got a solution with the new owner and the investors. But on the other hand the team is not on the grid for now, so it's a bit of a strange situation, because there's everything to do a good job with this team next year, but there's no place for now, so it's a bit difficult.

Q. Have the events at Renault make you think twice before going there?

RK: Of course somehow I was a bit more interesting about the FIA outcome than normally, because Renault is one of the possible options for me for the future and for sure it's good that they are staying. Of course losing two key people will change the situation a bit, but I don't know, we'll see.

Q. When do you expect to make a decision about what you will do?

RK: I think sooner or later, but I don't have a set time, so we'll take out time and then see.

Q. Is Renault still a possibility for you?

RK: As I said Renault is one of the options, of course. There are other teams where there's an opportunity to race in the future so we will see.

Q. When you say things have changed with two key people having left..

RK: It might have changed, there has to be change. I assume that when you lose such important people there has to be some change, and for sure there will be some changes, I assume.

Q. How easy would have been to make the wrong decision with all the confusion? How big is the risk?

RK: There's always a risk, and there's never a guarantee that you are going to go in a better direction. You cannot predict the performance of the car for next year, but still, you know, you have internal feelings which lead you to make a decision. But there are things outside of performance because this cannot know.

Q. Is it important then to have flexibility in your future plans?

RK: I don't think so. I have been with BMW Sauber for a long time and for sure if they weren't leaving F1 I would stay here. I'm looking forward to a new challenge and also to a longer relationship, because even if you are not on top straight away, if you have everything to bring you to the top you can be there with time. So for sure I would rather look for longer term options.

Q. Have you ruled out staying in this team?

RK: No. Sauber is one of the options. The money is there, so there's everything needed to be on a high level. But on the other hand it's kind of a question mark, because if I decide to be here and then in January I discover we will not be on the grid is a bit difficult.

Q. How much easier would it be if you knew the team will be on the grid?

RK: It would be completely different for me, for the team and for everybody. I think also for the team is not easy to find sponsors and everything, I assume.

Q. Do you think the Renault scandal has had an effect in Formula 1?

RK: Well, for sure it did have an effect, because in the end such a big thing... It had an effect in the fans, on the people, and maybe those who don't follow Formula 1, but it's the kind of thing that grabs your attention. When you switch on the TV and the radio there was a lot of information on this case. For sure it had an effect. This year we've had a lot of thing which were not related to the sport, which was no good for the racing and for the drivers, but this is how it is. For someone F1 is a sport, for someone F1 is a business, so this is how it is.

Q. Does it make you think about the integrity of F1 and as 'what am I involved in'?

RK: Somehow if you want to race in F1 you have to accept that sometimes it's a bit drifting from the ideal view of Formula 1, but that's how it is. Once you are in, as a driver what's most important is to be racing. All in all, for me it's 100 per cent sport, because I'm a racing driver. I'm jumping into the car and I'm racing against the others. For me it's a 100 per cent racing and 100 per cent sport.

Q. You were one of the victims of the safety car last year.

RK: I would have probably finished on the podium.

Q. Winning?

RK: No, I don't think so.

Q. Did it affect your championship?

RK: Now when we look we can say yes, but at that point the circumstances were very strange, but no one really thought maybe some people faulted. It's last year and the only thing I'm surprised about is that someone from the FIA knew already last year, so I was surprised they didn't do something last year if they had the information. I think it's a too complicated topic.

Q. What are the chances of Nelson Piquet returning to Formula 1?

RK: I don't know.

Q. Would you welcome him back?

RK: Him? Whatever, I'm not the boss of this paddock so he can come in, no problem as a driver. But you have to be really desperate to do something like this. If everything was done on purpose I would jump out of the car on the starting grid. I'd say I'm not racing or I feel bad instead of doing it. I'm surprised. He's an experienced driver, he's done a lot of races and I'm very surprised he made that deal.

Q. Do you think giving him immunity sends the wrong message?

RK: Yeah, normally if you go the police and you say you killed someone but you know someone else who killed three people, you will still go to jail. Maybe you will not have 100 per cent penalty, but you will still have problems. As I said, it's complex.

Q. What do you think about the new kerbs here?

RK: I think the pit exit is much better, much safer. The pit entry was already tricky last year and this year I think is even more tricky. Now it's much slower and the outside kerb is quite high, so if you get it wrong you might be launched onto the track and if someone is coming it might be very dangerous. Already last year was quite risky. This year it looks much more risky if someone gets it wrong.

Q. And the chicane?

RK: The chicane already last year was very strange. It was kind of not an F1 corner. This year it's much tighter and the kerbs and also higher. It's a very difficult corner, because if you risk a lot you can gain a lot of time, but also you can finish on the wall.