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On June 8, 2008, Robert Kubica made history as the first Polish driver to win a Formula 1 Grand Prix race. This fierce battle with his competitors would go down in the annals of sports history. However, it was just a year earlier, on June 10, 2007, during the Canadian Grand Prix, that Kubica had a terrifying accident that shook the Formula 1 world.
By the time of the incident, Kubica had already made a name for himself in Formula 1. In 2006, he had achieved a podium finish at the legendary Monza circuit in Italy. However, his success was overshadowed by Michael Schumacher’s announcement of his retirement from racing. This time, the Polish driver found himself in Canada.
During the 27th lap, Kubica’s car collided with Jarno Trulli’s Toyota. The steering wheel stopped responding, the front wing detached and went under the wheels, propelling the front of the car into the air. The car somersaulted and smashed against the concrete wall, eventually coming to a halt on the opposite side of the track.
The scene was disastrous, especially considering the tremendous speed involved, exceeding 200 kilometers per hour. Initially, Kubica showed no signs of life, and the rescue services had to intervene swiftly. Fortunately, Kubica was conscious, and the safety measures had worked. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a sprained ankle. The media referred to it as an immense stroke of luck, even a miracle, that it had ended in such a way.
Less than a year later, on June 8, Robert Kubica had already achieved a historic pole position in the Bahrain Grand Prix. BMW-Sauber provided him with a machine capable of competing with the best. In Montreal, he started from second place, right behind Lewis Hamilton.