The ultra-competitive world of Formula One pulled together on Thursday as one of the sport's best drivers lay in a hospital.
Pole Robert Kubica would have returned to the track this week at Jerez, but a horrific rally crash in Italy has left him in the hospital with serious injuries and facing the prospect of a year on the sidelines.
The message, 'Szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia Robert,' — meaning in Polish 'get well quickly Robert' — was first posted on the website of the F1 teams association, FOTA.
Then, as the cars began to filter out of the pits on Thursday morning, it emerged that every runner was carrying the same message somewhere on his car, including the new McLaren that was given its proper test debut by Lewis Hamilton.
"Very touching," said The Times' correspondent Kevin Eason on Twitter when he heard about the Kubica tributes.
Kubica, 26, is facing more surgery later this week, but for now he has moved out of the intensive care unit.
"We are sure he will get out of this, and we can't wait to see him back on track," said Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.
The Robert Kubica Story Here
Winter Testing: Jerez day one - Massa sets the pace for Ferrari
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa topped the timesheets as this week’s four-day Jerez test got underway at the Spanish circuit on Thursday. Massa’s best time, a 1m 20.709s, was over seven tenths of a second faster than the quickest lap from second-placed runner Sergio Perez in the Sauber.
The opening day of the second official pre-season test saw 11 teams in action, with only HRT, who plan to test at Monza from February 14-16, missing. All those running in Jerez showed their support for injured Renault driver Robert Kubica by including get well soon messages on their car liveries.
Red Bull’s Mark Webber finished third in the RB7, ahead of reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo in Toro Rosso’s STR6. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was charged with giving the recently-launched MP4-26 its maiden run and finished fifth in the times.
Unofficial Thursday test times from Jerez:
1. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:20.709
2. Sergio Perez, Sauber, 1:21.483
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:21.522
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:21.755
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:21.914
6. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso, 1:22.689
7. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:23.472
8. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, 1:23.504
9. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP, 1:23.963
10. Jarno Trulli, Lotus, 1:24.458
11. Timo Glock, Virgin, 1:25.086
12. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:34.968
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