Kubica Reflects on Enduring Ferrari F1 Regret Amidst WEC Success

During an interview with Autosport at the 2026 24 Hours of Le MansCompetition·24 Hours of Le Mans, Polish driver Robert KubicaPlayer·Robert Kubica reiterated a long-standing personal reflection: his deepest career regret remains the unfulfilled ambition of becoming a Scuderia FerrariTeam·Ferrari Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 driver. This candid admission comes as Kubica continues to achieve significant success in endurance racing, notably securing victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le MansCompetition·24 Hours of Le Mans with his AF CorseTeam·AF Corse FerrariTeam·Ferrari team.

Kubica, alongside teammates Yifei YePlayer·Yifei Ye and Phil HansonPlayer·Phil Hanson, piloted the #83 AF CorseTeam·AF Corse FerrariTeam·Ferrari 499P to a commanding win at the iconic endurance race in 2025. This achievement was a highlight in a season that also saw the trio finish as runner-up in the 2025 FIA World Endurance Drivers' ChampionshipCompetition·FIA World Endurance Drivers' Championship. The Polish driver is set to continue with AF CorseTeam·AF Corse in the World Endurance ChampionshipCompetition·World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the 2026 season, driving the same FerrariTeam·Ferrari 499P.

Despite these notable accomplishments with FerrariTeam·Ferrari machinery in the Hypercar category, the shadow of a missed Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 opportunity with the Italian marque remains. Kubica's aspiration to race for FerrariTeam·Ferrari in Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 was nearly realized over a decade ago. He had a pre-contract signed with Scuderia FerrariTeam·Ferrari for the 2012 Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 season. However, a severe rally accident in February 2011, while he was a RenaultTeam·Renault Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 driver, caused permanent injuries to his right arm and leg, fundamentally altering the trajectory of his career and preventing his move to FerrariTeam·Ferrari.

His return to top-tier motorsport has been a testament to his resilience. After a period in rallying, Kubica made a remarkable comeback to Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 in 2019 with WilliamsTeam·Williams, a significant achievement given the physical demands of the sport and his injuries. Now, in endurance racing, he has found a new platform for success.

Kubica drew a clear distinction between his current role and his past F1 aspirations, as reported in June 2026 interviews.

"I have to clarify something, I am not a Ferrari driver now; I drive a Ferrari car, but I am an AF Corse driver. There is a small difference, of course, I cannot compare the present with the time when I was on the verge of becoming a Ferrari Formula 1 driver," Robert Kubica stated. "I don't want to take anything away from the Hypercar category, but when you are an established Formula 1 driver, you have two goals – one is to be a world champion or at least fight for the title, and the other is to be a Ferrari driver. I did not achieve either of them. I was on the verge of becoming a Ferrari driver, unfortunately, due to the accident, it did not happen."

He further elaborated on the emotional aspect of his decision to join AF CorseTeam·AF Corse: "Certainly, we cannot compare the two, but I must say that one of the reasons I accepted to drive for AF CorseTeam·AF Corse was that one of the things that continued to bother me after my accident was the fact that I never managed to get behind the wheel of a FerrariTeam·Ferrari Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 car. That is what I regret the most." This emotional connection, rather than purely technical considerations, influenced his choice to race the FerrariTeam·Ferrari Hypercar, ensuring he would not regret missing the chance to drive for FerrariTeam·Ferrari in any capacity.

Kubica's continued high-level performance in the WEC, particularly with a FerrariTeam·Ferrari-badged car, keeps him in the motorsport spotlight, demonstrating his enduring talent and ability to compete at the highest levels of international motorsport, even if his Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 dreams with FerrariTeam·Ferrari remain an "open wound."