Polish F1 star Kubica leaves intensive care

(CNN) — Formula One star Robert Kubica has finally left intensive care and can now begin rehabilitation from the injuries he suffered while driving in a rally in Italy on February 6.

His Lotus Renault team reported on Tuesday that the Pole would remain at Santa Corona Hospital for at least another two weeks.

“He will stay here so we can monitor his condition. During that time there is still the possibility of infection and other complications, so he will have the dressings on his hand changed every few days,” his surgeon Dr. Mario Igor Rosello told the UK-based team’s website.

The 26-year-old had lengthy operations to save the functionality of his hand and to rebuild his foot, shoulder and the inner part of his elbow.

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“He is now in his own large room so that he is as comfortable as possible. He has already started some gentle hand exercises with the slight flexing of his fingers,” Rosello said.

“He’s no longer in pain, and his psychological condition is pretty good. He’s obviously keen to start the rehabilitation work as soon as possible.

“He can move his fingers slightly and has a little bit of sensitivity already in his hand. What is very important is that there is no sign of infection, which is the main concern.”

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Kubica, whose only F1 victory was while he was at Sauber in 2008 when he had six other podium placings, finished eighth in the drivers’ standings in his first season at Renault last year.

He will miss most of the new season, which has been delayed by two weeks following the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 13, with his former Sauber teammate Nick Heidfeld to replace him at the default opening race in Australia.

While the Bahrain race has yet to be rescheduled, the test sessions planned for the Gulf state next week have been moved to Barcelona in Spain from March 8-11.