Williams Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica believes he silenced any sceptics who thought he “would not even be able to turn the steering wheel” in the Monaco Grand Prix.
Kubica was absent from the F1 grid for more than eight years after his right arm was almost severed in a rallying crash in early 2011, but has returned with Williams this year.
The two-time Monaco GP podium finisher said after making his comeback in Australia he felt he was required to “show more than the others” to prove he deserves his seat “because of my limitation”.
Apart from a spin exiting Casino Square on Thursday Kubica had a error-free weekend around the street circuit, and had been running ahead of several cars in the race before he was punted into a spin by Antonio Giovinazzi.
“I knew I would be fine here,” Kubica, who was eventually classified 18th, told Autosport.
“I think overall a lot of people thought I would not even be able to turn the steering wheel.
“In this not easy situation I think I did pretty well, and I can be happy. Of course the final result could have been better, but that’s how it is with racing.
“People said that Turn 1 would be an issue for me, and I think in all the races I did pretty well in Turn 1, or on the opening lap, when there is a kind of racing instinct.”
Kubica had a good first lap in Monaco, passing team-mate George Russell and Giovinazzi.
He then jumped Charles Leclerc and Nico Hulkenberg when they collided and both pitted, and got ahead of Sergio Perez by staying out under the safety car to run 15th until he was hit by Giovinazzi.
“I gained two positions at the start, and in the opening laps there is a lot of managing tyres, managing your pace,” said Kubica.
“After the safety car I could keep them behind, but I knew I had to stop. There was some possibility for rain, so that’s why I stayed out.
“The rain showed up, but just slightly, and in this case our strategy didn’t pay off.”
Kubica brushed off Giovinazzi’s nudge, saying: “It’s racing, there’s not a lot you can do in this situation.
“That’s how it is, sometimes.”