Kubica had an operation to save his right hand and will miss some if not all of the F1 season [GALLO/GETTY]

Robert Kubica was moved out of intensive care four days after his rally crash as his fellow Formula One drivers used a day of testing to send him a 'get well soon' message.

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.

A team spokeswoman said the Pole, who suffered serious arm, leg and hand injuries when his car crashed into a church wall in a minor rally near Genoa on Sunday, was expected to have further surgery on Friday after being transferred to a trauma ward.

The ASNA news agency reported that his condition was considered good enough to undergo a double operation on his leg and shoulder.

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 teammate, was testing on Thursday.