Kubica moved out of intensive care after crash

Formula One teams used their cars to send Robert Kubica a 'get well soon' message on Thursday as the Renault driver was moved out of intensive care four days after his rally crash in Italy.

The teams started the second pre-season test at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain with the Polish message "Szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia Robert (Get Well Soon Robert)" on the sides of their cars.

The website of the Formula One Teams Association (www.teamsassociation.org) also carried the message.

A team spokeswoman said the Pole, who suffered serious arm, leg and hand injuries when his car crashed on a minor rally near Genoa on Sunday, was expected to have further surgery on Friday.

The 26-year-old underwent a seven hour operation involving two teams of surgeons on Sunday to save his right hand and stabilise his condition.

Kubica, one of Formula One's brightest prospects and tipped as a champion of the future, has been ruled out for at least the first two months of the season and possibly all of it given the extent of the injury to his right hand.

Germany's Nick Heidfeld, without a drive since he left Sauber last year, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace him and will test for Renault in Jerez along with their official reserve Brazilian Bruno Senna.

Russian Vitaly Petrov, Kubica's regular team-mate, was testing on Thursday.