GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Kubica stable after nine-hour operation

Kubica stable after nine-hour operation

Robert Kubica is rushed into Santa Corona hospital after his accident a week ago © Associated Press

Robert Kubica is in a stable condition after undergoing further surgery on the injuries he sustained in his rallying accident a week ago.

Kubica had a second operation at the Santa Corona Hospital, following emergency treatment last Sunday, and spent nine hours in theatre as surgeons worked on his foot, shoulder and inner elbow. Further operations are still required on his arm.

"We finished the second surgical intervention on his upper arm, which was already compromised in a previous accident," orthopaedic surgeon Dr Francesco Lanza told reporters. "We gave him a bone graft and inserted a plate. We operated on the inner part of the upper arm but we still have to operate on the outer part."

While Kubica continues to make good progress, former world champion Niki Lauda slammed his decision to undertake rallying.

"It makes no sense for him to put his job and his life at risk like this," Lauda said. "Was it unreasonable? Of course it was. He has to ensure that he can do his job, and his job is Formula One. Only he is to blame for what happened to him. Did he have to be doing this? No."

Asked about Kubica's explanation that rallying helped him keep his reflexes in shape, Lauda was unimpressed. "That's nonsense," he replied. "Rally driving has nothing to do with Formula One. They are different sports."

But Sebastian Vettel gave his backing. "Anything can always happen around the next corner so this has nothing to do with his rallying activity, and it was not his first rally," he said. "I think I speak in the name of all when I say that he is recovering fast and that he will be able to get back into his beloved F1 cockpit very soon."

Credit: ESPN F1 (espn.com)