The BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica claims to have four realistic options for drives next season. The Pole is the favourite to replace Fernando Alonso at Renault after the Spaniard has left the team. The Ferrari-bound Alonso said in Suzuka: "He is one of my best friends and one of the best drivers. If there is a chance then I would recommend him." But Kubica said he had a host of lucrative offers on the table, including the chance to be Renault's lead driver next season. "I don't want to say too much as it's not right to talk about which teams," he said.
"But I've four or five offers, four of which could easily come about. In my mind, there is one that's stronger and I'm 90, maybe 95 per cent sure that will happen." Kubica has made no secret of having held talks with Williams and could conceivably still remain at the rebranded BMW Sauber in 2010, who have been bought out by the Swiss-based Qadbak Investments. However, the team's place on the grid is in doubt and a decision on who will head up the team, if given the green light to compete in 2010, is still not clear, making the option less appealing for Kubica.
"For sure that makes it difficult but I'm still in talks with BMW. I'll make a decision sooner rather than later but it takes time to fix everything when making a deal. "There's no point me saying where I might go as nothing is 100 per cent until a contract has been signed and that hasn't happened. We'll see." Kubica said he could "sign a deal tomorrow" if he wanted but said he would take his time to guarantee his future in F1.
He added: "The quick fix is not always the best fix. I still have many years ahead of me in F1 and I need to make sure that the next move is the right one for the long-term so that's why I won't rush. People will have to just be patient with me." sports@thenational.ae
