BEFORE AND AFTER

It is difficult to fully appreciate exactly what Robert Kubica has been through during the past decade, until you spend time talking to him. And even then, even with the most sympathetic ear, you cannot really know how he did it – how this man dragged himself from the depths of despair back onto the Formula 1 circuit.

The only person who really does know is Robert himself – a fact that becomes stark as he reflects, with refreshing candour, on the remarkable journey he’s undertaken since the accident that stalled an enormously promising racing career, and almost ended his life.

We’ve ostensibly been brought together to talk about his current stint at Alfa Romeo as reserve driver, and his recent cameos as a race driver, standing in for Kimi Räikkönen at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix.

But the conversation takes an unexpected turn when asks Robert to compare the standard of driver he is