Now a full-time world rally driver, he would not confirm how close he had come to a move to Maranello when speaking to the Italian broadcaster Sky at the weekend.

“I cannot say,” said Kubica, who was smiling as he answered. “Formula one would be a dream to come back but we have to stay realistic.”

His return to F1 has been thwarted so far by his recovery from a life-threatening rally crash just prior to the 2011 F1 season, when he was signed up to race for Lotus.

Restricted movement in his right arm, wrist, hand and fingers has meant that while he can drive a rally or touring car, the limited space of a F1 cockpit is more challenging.

More surgery

But Kubica told the BBC he is set to look into whether further surgery could put his F1 “dream” back on track.

“Once the season is over I will look at everything,” he said.

“The arm and hand are OK,” said Kubica. “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,” he explained.

“Formula one would be a dream to come back but we have to stay realistic,” Kubica added.

“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.”