Eastern Europe's only F1 competitor making his debut in Eastern Europe's only F1 race, Kubica could not be making a more appropriate bow. As it happens, Jacques Villeneuve has not recovered from his shunt at Hockenheim, but with the battle for the second seat alongside
Nick Heidfeld seemingly between the Canadian and the Pole, this will no doubt give
BMW Sauber the most accurate barometer yet as to whether youth or experience should prevail.
“I had prepared myself for a whole year without actually competing in any races, so I'm even happier to get this opportunity,” he said. “And I'm proud that the BMW Sauber F1 Team has such confidence in me. I'm determined not to let them down.”
Interestingly, Kubica admits that the 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix was the last race he visited as a spectator. And who was the winner on that occasion? Jacques Villeneuve, of course.
“I have competed there once, in 2001 in my first year of racing in Formula
Renault, and actually it was my first race when I got closer to the pace. It's a ‘Mickey Mouse' track, stop and go all the time. I have never driven a
Formula One car there.
“I went there in 1997 - it was the first and last Grand Prix I visited as a spectator. I said to everybody: I don't like to watch and I will never go to another Grand Prix unless I am driving. It's funny, I was twelve, and Jacques won there, and now we're working together. So life has changed.”
However, Kubica could face a tough baptism of fire as the Hungaroring is not a circuit that is expected to suit the
F1.06. Indeed, the car has threatened more established rivals on fast circuits such as
Silverstone and Montreal, but its last foray onto a low-speed track at Monaco exposed the car's failings.
Nonetheless, Heidfeld admits he enjoys racing at and visiting Budapest, a circuit he claimed a sixth place finish last year at the wheel of a BMW powered
Williams.
“I really enjoy Hungary. I like the Hungaroring and I like Budapest. It's a wonderful old town with beautiful old buildings and there's always something going on there.
Budapest is a good place for going out and for eating.
“It was on the Hungaroring in 1999 that I claimed an early title win in Formula 3000, and we certainly celebrated that in true style. That's something I like to think back on, naturally. After Monaco, the circuit is the slowest on the Formula One calendar. It has a lot of turns and hardly any straights.
