Kubica to take part in three FP1 outings in 2018
- Published on 15 Feb 2018 20:36
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Robert Kubica has confirmed that he will be doing three free practice sessions with Williams during the 2018 season. The Pole is taking on his first official F1 since his major rally crash in 2011, which halted his F1 career.
Earlier this year, Williams confirmed that Sergey Sirotkin would occupy the vacant race seat at the team, replacing Felipe Massa who retired at the end of the 2017 season. Williams opted to keep Kubica as part of the team, handing him the role of test and development driver.
He will drive the FW41 at three Grands Prix weekend this year - at the Circuit de Catalunya, the Red Bull Ring and one other circuit. While admitting that he disappointed not to be racing, he is happy to be back in the F1 paddock.
"I’m back in Formula 1 in a different role to when I was racing in 2011, but I’m back permanently in the F1 paddock, so I’m looking forward to it," he said. "It will be interesting to go back to some of the places I have been before, some of them providing different emotions from different moments in my life.
"Sometimes it can be quite difficult watching others racing, but I have a different role this year. It's sure to be a tough season with a lot of races and things to do. I have to be on top of the work I have to do for the team. So, let’s get started!"
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (7)
Login to replyKean
Posts: 692
Thought he'd do more...
ENDR
Posts: 43
Nope, guess Sirotkin's "DOING" more.
Numnum
Posts: 4,863
Sigh...
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I thought it was an embarrassing display to have Kubica next to a mediocre rookie, and an almost-promising guy, and Kubica is the reserve driver in that group. But that's Williams these days.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
What evidence do you have that Kubica was better than Sirotkin at the test in Abu Dhabi?
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@F1FAN0101 I concede that I know nothing about Kubica's comparative performance. I mean more how it came across... they could have had any other reserve driver there, but simply because it was Kubica, to me it felt incredibly awkward. I do stand by what I said about Stroll and Sirotkin. Hopefully, they prove me wrong in 2018 and turn out to be another Verstappen and Sainz pairing. But as it stands right now mediocre rookie, and almost-promising labels seem to fit.
xoya
Posts: 583
Well, unfortunately for him, he is the one with the handicap...
He is very lucky to even get anywhere near an F1 car, however sad that may be.