Oliver White
Robert Kubica has spoken of his joy to stand on the Albert Park podium in Australia, following a long and hard race that saw the Polish pilot improve from his ninth-place grid position to second at the chequered flag. Kubica got a good start off the line, stayed out of trouble on the opening lap and made up places through the pitstops, before finally inheriting a position when Sebastian Vettel parked up with brake failure.
It was difficult because we struggled with the warm-up so when we saw Button was quick on slicks we pitted on the same lap as Felipe.
My guys did a fantastic job, we overtook Felipe in the pitstop but Button was much quicker with one or two laps on his tyres – he built temperature up, and they are very quick on straightline speed. I was not confident with the conditions as it was my first lap on slicks so it was hard to fight with Button. Robert Kubica.
The decision to stay out on track and not take a second pitstop was key, but an obvious move in order to retain position over the Ferrari drivers right behind. Kubica was keen to point out though that the result in Melbourne was not expected nor normal. However, he praised the Enstone-based team for working hard over the winter and believes he can be regularly on the pace in the future.
Unfortunately Australia has not always been lucky for me, in the last two years I could have finished on the podium easily.
To be honest we were not expecting to finish on the podium, for Renault and myself it is a special result. We were pushing hard during the winter and this was the best result we could get for the beginning of the season. This is big thanks to all the guys.
We have to stay realistic, we are not up to pace to finish on the podium normally. We need to keep pushing and I am sure we will manage sooner or later to be on the pace. Robert Kubica.
Kubica’s result in Australia places him in sixth in the championship and Renault in fourth, a vast improvement already over his woeful 2009 campaign.
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