Robert Kubica got the racing bug early in his life, racing an off-road vehicle as early as the age of four. At the age of 10, he began competing against other children and he began winning almost immediately - claiming six championships in three years of competition in the Polish Karting Championship.
Following those titles, Robert and his family decided to begin racing in Italy, where the competition was better. That move also payed immediate dividends as he became the first foreigner to win the Italian Karting Championship in 1998.
From there, Kubica's career continued skyrocketing - moving on to Formula Renault 2000, Formula Renault Eurocup, Brazilian Formula Renault 2000, Formula 3 Euro Series, Formula 3 Euro Series and finally Formula One - where he signed with BMW Sauber to be the team's test, substitute and Friday driver.
However, it was an accident to Jacques Villeneuve at the German Grand Prix that gave the Polish driver the opportunity to drive in Formula One. Racing in the final six events of the 2006 campaign, Kubica turned in impressive performances - highlighted by his podium finish in the Grand Prix of Italy.
In 2007, Kubica raced for BMW Sauber and finished sixth in the points in his first full season of Formula One racing. He finished with points in all but five of his 16 starts. He missed the United States Grand Prix after being involved in a bad accident the week prior in Canada.
Kubica captured his first career victory with BMW Sauber in 2008, when he won the Canadian Grand Prix from the second starting spot. That season, Kubica finished on the podium seven times and also captured his first pole start in the Grand Prix of Bahrain. With 75 points, Kubica challenged for the championship until the last few races of the season and ended in fourth in the standings.
