Hamilton’s keen eye on Kubica progress

LEWIS Hamilton will have one eye on Robert Kubica’s test at the Hungaroring in Hungary today as the Pole prepares to take another step on his comeback trail.

Kubica (32) will be given his next audition by Renault when he drives their 2017 car for the first time on the concluding day of this week’s test.

Kubica partially severed his right arm in a 2011 rallying crash that brought a sudden halt to a Formula One career which had seen him earmarked as a future world champion.

The extent of the scar he sustained in the accident was on full show in the Hungaroring paddock yesterday as he monitored the action in a Renault T-shirt before later posing for pictures in the team’s overalls.

Hamilton, who trails Sebastian Vettel by 14 points, will take no part in this week’s test and was in Los Angeles on Monday at a Lionel Richie concert.

“Robert is one of the quickest drivers I have raced against,” Hamilton said.

“If he was still racing today he would be in contention for a world title, or would have won one.

“He is a raw, natural talent and, as a sport, it is a shame we don’t have more of that. There are not a lot of great drivers filtering through. Some down the bottom are good but they are not the greatest.

“I am really happy he is doing the test and I have a keen eye on how his tests are going. It would be great if he can physically get back to racing.”

Kubica completed 115 laps at a private test in Valencia in June before a further trial last month in which he managed 90 laps of the Paul Ricard circuit in France.