Kubica Conundrum

If reports are to be true, Robert Kubica's DTM test with Mercedes today (Thursday 24th January) left the Pole 0.5 seconds faster around the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia than ex-DTM champion, Gary Paffett. 
Should Kubica's rumoured pace prove fruitful, it adds yet more fuel to the fire that the man once considered one of the greatest drivers in the world, could be about to press on further with his road back to Formula One by entering the DTM fraternity. So where would such a move leave him? Well, as with everyone, it's a battle royale to join, or rejoin in Kubica's case, the big league. With budget becoming ever-more decisive in a driver's career in and around the sport, talent is forever taking a more settled position on the backbench. With talent undoubtedly present but budget questionable, this ugly-truth could work either way for the former BMW-Sauber and Lotus-Renault driver. 
Should Mercedes clinch Kubica's signature for the forthcoming DTM season, the pairing would face a mammoth task of overcoming such an already strong grid line-up, with Paffett, Bruno Spengler, Jamie Green, Mattias Ekstrom, and Martin Tomczyk to name but a few, all far more experienced and proven race-winners in the series. 
Should the Polish racer thrive, his potential ties with Mercedes should open up a whole host of avenues in Formula One, the marque's own works-team being one of three teams powered by 'Merc' engines. 2014 see's the introduction of brand-new engine technology in F1, and teams will be desperate for their respective drivers to offer valuable feedback and advice regarding engine performance and behaviour. With years of experience in Formula One already, this could stand Kubica in good stead, with customer-Mercedes teams Sahara Force India, maybe McLaren, and even former supplier Sauber, who are rumoured to be in discussions with Mercedes for 2014. 
It's all if's and but's for Kubica right now, and this extends to his current physical condition, which since his horrific rally accident two years ago, remains short of what is needed to pilot a Formula One car, despite vast improvement. Having declared 'no problems whatsoever' in the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupe, bags of proven talent, a massive fan-base and substantial determination to get back to his best, Robert Kubica is a man who deserves to have the pro's growing, and the con's shrinking, in his mission back to the top.