Robert Kubica

In 2006 Kubica became the official 3rd/test driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team.[1] His impressive results in both Friday testings and private test sessions, along with the words of BMW Sauber's manager Mario Theissen, led to speculation that he would become Poland's first Formula One racing driver in 2007. In August 2006, Kubica's teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, complained about headaches after his accident during the 2006 German Grand Prix in Hockenheim; he was deemed unfit for racing by the team, against his belief that he could race [1], and Kubica was chosen by the team management to drive at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest. He excelled in qualifying, lining up on the grid in 9th, and beating his more experienced teammate Nick Heidfeld. In the race, he finished in 7th place, but was disqualified after the race for having an underweight car [2]. Villeneuve decided to leave the BMW Sauber team soon after the race,[3] it looked certain that Kubica would stay on as Heidfeld's teammate until the end of the season and he might also drive for the team next year. This was confirmed after a spokesperson of BMW told reporters that: "Robert Kubica will drive in the remaining races of the season. That is our current plan."[4] In his third race, the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, Kubica finished in a personal best third position writing his name into the history book as the first Polish driver to appear on a Formula One podium, as well as the first Polish driver to lead a Grand Prix. He is one of four drivers in the last decade to finish on the podium within his first three Formula One starts, the others being Ralf Schumacher (Argentina 1997), Alexander Wurz (Great Britain 1997), and Lewis Hamilton (Australia 2007).