Kubica set for long recovery from crash injuries

Robert Kubica’s career is in the balance, and his 2011 season almost certainly over, after his rally crash on Sunday.

Also with right leg fractures reportedly caused by armco barriers piercing the car, the Pole underwent seven hours of surgery conducted by seven doctors in Italy with the main focus being efforts to save his badly damaged right arm and hand.

"He ... suffered severe cuts to his forearm, which could have an impact on his right hand mobility," confirmed his F1 employer Renault.

The statement said doctors are "reasonably satisfied" after the surgery, but 26-year-old Kubica remains in a serious condition in an induced coma.

"It has been a very important and difficult operation," said hand surgeon Mario Ignor Rossello.

"Robert Kubica’s right forearm was cut in two places, with significant lesions to the bones and the tendons. We did our best to rebuild the functions of the forearm.

"At the end of the operation, Robert’s hand was well vascularised and warm, which is encouraging," he added.

When asked by reporters about what the future holds for Kubica, he answered: "We will see in the next days what will happen.

"The danger is that in five or seven days we have vascular problems. He could have surgery again to resolve the problems."

It has been suggested that Kubica will take at least a year to recover, but Rossello insisted: "Drivers are always very special patients. I have a lot of motorbike patients and they heal in the fastest way possible, much faster than normal people."

It is believed Kubica’s friend Fernando Alonso has already visited him in hospital.

Among the candidates to replace Kubica in 2011 are team reserves Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, new Force India third driver Nico Hulkenberg, Team Lotus driver Jarno Trulli and the out-of-work Nick Heidfeld and Vitantonio Liuzzi.