» Kubica: Thumbs up! – MotorsportM8

Despite fears that his badly-injured right arm may “never recover entirely”, Robert Kubica continues to make steady progress as his lengthy recuperation from a pre-season rally accident continues.

The latest news from his rehabilitation base in Italy is that the Renault driver has regained full movement in his right thumb, while he is gradually seeing movement return to the rest of his fingers in his right hand.

The one-time Grand Prix winner suffered critical injuries – including the partial amputation of his right arm – during the Ronde di Andora rally in February, where he also suffered multiple fractures to his right arm, shoulder, elbow and leg.

Reports in the German-language Die Welt newspaper claim that, while his right arm will “probably never recover entirely”, he is steadily making progress. Now, just his “middle finger still causes problems” with his thumb having “recovered full movement”.

There had been suggestions that the 26-year-old could make a return to the cockpit this year in a Friday test driving capacity, but his manager Daniele Morelli has flatly rejected this, saying that “’if Robert comes back, he doesn’t want gifts or kindly-meant offers.”