Kubica has signed Ferrari 'option', reports claim

Felipe Massa's ears might be burning in Barcelona this weekend, as on the eve of the 2010 Spanish Grand Prix, reports coming out of Italy claim Robert Kubica has signed an 'option' with Ferrari to replace the Brazilian from 2011

Robert Kubica has signed an 'option' to compete for Ferrari in the 2011 F1 World Championship, reports coming out of Italy claim.

Kubica has been linked to the illustrious Prancing Horse for some time, and the Pole would be a good fit given both his reputation as one of the grand prix paddock's fastest drivers, hardest workers and fiercest chargers - and the fact that he spent much of his junior career racing in Italy.

According to Turin-based sports daily Tuttosport, an 'option' has been agreed between the two parties that expires on 15 July - and should that option be taken up, Kubica would likely partner double F1 World Champion, friend and fellow poker player Fernando Alonso at the Scuderia next season, in-place of present incumbent Felipe Massa.

The story has arguably gained credibility in the wake of the Chinese Grand Prix last time out, when Alonso aggressively and single-mindedly barged his way past the sister scarlet machine on the entry to the Shanghai pit-lane, unceremoniously elbowing his team-mate aside and onto the grass and thereby making sure that his Ferrari was the one to be serviced first during the flurry of pit-stops following the emergence of the safety car - leaving Massa to sit in-line and wait. The pair finished the race respectively fourth (Alonso) and ninth - the difference between twelve points and just two.

However, approaching this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona - the beginning of the European leg of the 2010 season - Kubica was insisting that his focus is fully on the task in-hand, and on his fear that Renault has not made a substantial enough improvement to its R30 in comparison with its closest adversaries.

"Most of the teams normally target a big upgrade for Barcelona, and I just hope they don't bring three, four [tenths], half a second," the Pole mused, confessing that he had hoped for 'a bigger upgrade' from the Enstone-based outfit around the Circuit de Catalunya. "If they do, we might be a bit more in trouble."

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