Robert Kubica has passed the FIA’s mandatory cockpit extraction test ahead of his first drive of a current-spec Formula 1 car on Day 2 of the post-Hungary test.
F1 technical regulations stipulate that drivers must be able to extricate themselves from the cockpit within five seconds, from a normal seating position with seatbelts fastened, and replace the steering wheel within 10s.
There has been concerns that Kubica would face difficulty passing the test due to limited mobility in his right arm as a result of his major rally crash in 2011.
However, the FIA has confirmed that the Pole passed the test on Monday.
Wednesday’s test is regarded as the final measure of whether Kubica will be able to make a full F1 comeback in 2018.
He has already impressed Renault in tests in a 2012 car at Valencia and Paul Ricard.
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Kubica has not visited a grand prix since his accident and always said he would only return to the F1 paddock as a driver.
He attended the first day of testing at the Hungaroring and was on the pit wall to watch Renault test driver Nicholas Latifi.
Renault Sport F1 managing director Cyril Abiteboul said after Kubica’s first run in the 2012 car that the team personnel who had worked with him in 2010 had always wanted to give him a chance to prove whether he could return to the grid.
“There is at Enstone (Renault F1 team factory) a group of people composed of Bob Bell, Nick Chester, (and) Alan Permane,” said Abiteboul.
“All these people have known Robert as a driver, have worked with him, and over the years – including when Robert was completely outside of the radar – they have maintained contact with him.
“And that’s something that they always discussed: what if, as a dream he was capable of driving again in this type of circumstance?”
The initial test at Valencia was regarded as an exploratory run with no commitment to take things further, but his fitness and pace changed the situation and made a comeback with Renault in 2018 a serious proposition.
The second and final day of the post-Hungarian Grand Prix test takes place from tonight (AEST).
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