Formula One race team Lotus Renault confirmed Wednesday that Germany's Nick Heidfeld will replace the injured Robert Kubica in its driving line-up, starting with this week's preseason test in Barcelona.
Kubica has been ruled out for at least three months and possibly the entire season after suffering serious arm, leg and hand injuries in a rally crash in Italy 11 days ago.
The 33-year-old Heidfeld is one of the most experienced drivers in Formula One, having started 172 races over the last 11 seasons. He will race alongside Vitaly Petrov when the season gets underway in Bahrain on March 13.
"I would have liked to come back to Formula One in different circumstances, but I'm proud to have been given this chance," Heidfeld said.
"Everything has happened so quickly, but I've been very impressed by what I have seen so far in terms of the facilities and the dedication of the people at Enstone."
Heidfeld was Kubica's teammate at Sauber for almost four years.
Kubica, 26, was placed in intensive care after a horrific crash that doctors feared might result in the loss of his right hand and possibly part of his arm.
Doctors said the Polish driver had undergone a successful eight-hour surgery on Wednesday to repair damage to the outer part of his elbow, AFP reported.
"The operation was a success and at the moment it probably won't be necessary to perform any more surgical interventions," the hospital said in a statement. "Kubica is in intensive care recovering from this long operation."
