F1 world salutes injured Kubica at Jerez

The ultra-competitive world of formula one pulled together on Thursday as one of the sport’s best drivers lay in hospital.

Pole Robert Kubica would have returned to the track this week at Jerez, but an horror rally crash in Italy has left him in hospital with serious injuries and facing the prospect of a year on the sidelines.

The message ’Szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia Robert’ - meaning in Polish ’get well quickly Robert’ - was first posted on the website of the F1 teams association FOTA.

Then, as the cars began to filter out of the pits on Thursday morning, it emerged that every runner was carrying the same message somewhere on his car, including the new McLaren that was given its proper test debut by Lewis Hamilton.

"Very touching," said The Times’ correspondent Kevin Eason on Twitter when he heard about the Kubica tributes.

Kubica, 26, is facing more surgery later this week, but for now he has moved out of the intensive care unit.

"We are sure he will get out of this and we can’t wait to see him back on track," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.