© Getty Images Enlarge

Robert Kubica turned down an opportunity to test an F1 car last year and admits it is hard for him to watch races in the knowledge that he is unlikely to make a return to the series.

Kubica's F1 career was interrupted at the start of 2011 when he partially severed his right arm in a rally accident. He had been tipped for championship success and was believed to have a contract with Ferrari for the future, but the extent of his injuries prevented him from returning to F1.

Kubica turned his full focus to rallying instead and in 2013 won the WRC2 title. This year he drove in the full WRC series with a best result of sixth at Rally Argentina.

Kubica said he had been given an opportunity to test an F1 car last year, but that he is not interested if he does not have the ability to make a full return.

"Last year I did some simulator work for Mercedes but with my limitations, I am not able to drive an F1 car in some circuits like Monte Carlo and Singapore, where there are tight corners," he told the Mirror. "I have no rotation of my wrist and my forearm. In touring cars and rally cars, I can compensate with my shoulder but in F1, the space in the cockpits is too tight, too narrow.

"Last year, there was a plan for me to do a test in an F1 car and I was pretty comfortable that I could do it. But my question was 'What's next?' The next is not possible for me because of my limitations. So I didn't do it because I wanted to protect myself. There was too much risk that I would enjoy it and then... well, it would be like taking a knife and stabbing myself in the chest with it."

Over three years after his accident, he admits that watching his old rivals in F1 is difficult for him and that he would now rather focus on rallying.

"Do I think about F1? Yes and no. You have to live for what is next, not from memories. I could go to F1 races and have more contact with friends and people I knew in F1. But I decided to avoid it. Not because I am not friendly but because it reminds me. I am honest. Watching an F1 race is not easy.

"For the first two years after my accident, I was concentrating on my recovery and it was easier for me to watch then. Now it is a bit more difficult. Not because I see Lewis and Nico fighting for the championship and I think I know them from a very young age, we were racing every season since 98, but just because I miss driving with them.

"I'd be okay if I never drive an F1 car again competitively. I would be better if I could but I know time is running against me. When you cannot have something, you make what you have work. When you cannot have steak, either you eat egg or you don't eat. So, in the end, you eat egg and you enjoy it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.