F1's Lotus Renault Names Heidfeld To Replace Injured Kubica

Topics:  Nick Heidfeld

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
February 16, 2011 at 9:45 pm

The Lotus Renault Formula One team has named German driver Nick Heidfeld to replace injured Polish driver Robert Kubica for the foreseeable future, starting this week at the Barcelona circuit in Spain.

The team announced Wednesday that the 33-year-old Heidfeld will drive along with Russian teammate Vitaly Petrov at the Formula One season-opener in Bahrain next month.

Kubica will miss at least three months, and maybe the entire season, after suffering serious arm, leg and hand injuries in a crash at a rally in Italy February 6.

Heidfeld returns to the Formula One circuit after driving for Sauber last season. He was Kubica's teammate at BMW Sauber from 2006 to 2009. The veteran driver has started 172 F1 races over the last 11 seasons.

The German said he would have liked to come back to Formula One under different circumstances, but is proud to be given this chance.