Saturday, August 23, 2008

TITLE NOT THREE-HORSE RACE - KUBICA

TITLE NOT THREE-HORSE RACE - KUBICA

Kubica - still in the race.

Robert Kubica has dismissed Kimi Raikkonen's claim the Formula One world title race has now become a three-horse affair.

Earlier this week reigning world champion Raikkonen suggested the championship was between himself, Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa and current leader Lewis Hamilton, with eight points separating the trio.

Since his maiden victory in Canada which propelled him to the top of the standings, Kubica has endured a lean run of late, picking up just seven points from his last four races.

It means the Pole is now 13 points adrift of Hamilton heading into this Sunday's European Grand Prix at the newly-built street circuit around Valencia's marina.

Although BMW Sauber have failed to match the pace of development set by McLaren and Ferrari in recent weeks, Kubica is refusing to rule himself out just yet.

"I'm trying, as always, to do the maximum I can, to score as many points as possible," responded Kubica.

"Lately, we've been behind Ferrari and McLaren compared to where we were at the beginning of the season.

"So the job has become harder, especially as Toyota have recently been quicker than us, whilst Renault have also been very close.

"If I had the quickest car then I would say yes, I am still in it, because everything can all change very quickly.

"I hope things will improve this weekend, and if not then it will be difficult.

"But whilst there is a chance then I will try. If it doesn't work out then I'll still be happy because I will have achieved my goals and targets this season.

"From a driver point of view, you know if you can do any more or not.

"If you are pushing your skills and car performance to the limit, you can do no more, and that's the most important thing for me."

Kubica, though, knows he is fighting a losing battle if his team continue to make the kind of mistakes he feels have compromised his performance of late.

Refuting suggestions the team had headed down the wrong route in terms of development, he added: "It was not as if we had different ways to go.

"If we developed x, the others went forward more. Additionally in the last two or three races we've had some bad luck, whilst we've also made crucial mistakes.

"Such as in Hungary with the tyre pressures, which unfortunately happened in all three sets, so that was an operational mistake.

"In qualifying I was just a tenth (of a second) slower than Massa, so you cannot say our car is slower than others.

"But lately we have made more mistakes than at the beginning of the season, whilst they have moved forward and we have struggled more."



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