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Robert Kubica still has hopes of returning to Formula One, but would need further surgery to his arm to make it possible.

Kubica's right hand was partially severed in a rallying accident in early 2011, forcing him to quit Formula One. After a long recovery he returned to motorsport via rallying and this year competed at the very highest level in the World Rally Championship.

Kubica has always maintained that a return to F1 is his ultimate goal, but says even after three years of recovery and further surgery there is no guarantees his hand would be back to normal.

"Formula One would be a dream to come back but we have to stay realistic," he told the BBC. "If I decide to try and come back I will have more surgery this winter and maybe with the help of the doctors, and with some luck, it will be possible."

However, surgery may disrupt Kubica's rallying season, which runs from mid-January to mid-November.

"The arm and hand are okay. From a mobility point of view, there have been some improvements. From a limitation point of view, it's pretty much the same. So I need to have more surgery - and there are possibilities - but it's a tight season, there are many rallies and they are long events."

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