A former Formula 1 driver, praised by Lewis Hamilton as one of the most gifted competitors he ever encountered, has finally addressed the champion’s remarks in an exclusive SPORTbible interview. Hamilton, with an illustrious 18-year career spanning McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari, has battled the greatest talents in the sport—yet he singled out a rather unexpected name as one of the finest he has ever faced.
Robert Kubica, who burst onto the F1 scene in 2006 and collected 12 podiums across nearly 100 races, earned his lone victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix after capitalizing on a dramatic pit-lane collision involving Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen. Despite his modest win tally, Hamilton has long maintained that Kubica’s raw ability set him apart from even the sport’s elite. Their rivalry dates back to childhood karting duels, where Hamilton claims he first recognized Kubica’s exceptional calibre.
Hamilton’s admiration resurfaced in a 2019 interview, where he described Kubica as “one of the most talented drivers” he had ever competed against. Kubica stepped away from F1 following a devastating 2011 rally accident but later rebuilt his career, eventually re-emerging in the World Endurance Championship. Ahead of the WEC finale in Bahrain, Kubica responded to Hamilton’s comments with humility, emphasizing the mutual respect forged through decades of parallel competition and shared developmental paths.
Today, Kubica represents Ferrari in the Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship, partnering a rotating lineup of elite teammates. His 2025 season proved monumental: he secured overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—becoming the first Polish driver to do so—and added the Lone Star Le Mans triumph to his résumé. This rare double placed him among the only trio of drivers in history to conquer both Formula 1 and WEC races, alongside Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.
Reflecting on his transition from F1 to endurance racing, Kubica explained that while the competitive spirit is familiar, the technical and physical demands differ profoundly. Endurance drivers require a unique blend of stamina, mechanical sensitivity, and adaptability. His campaign concluded with a strong showing in Bahrain, earning second place in the Drivers’ Championship—an impressive testament to a career rebuilt with resilience and unrelenting skill.
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