Kubica cautious about Williams' 2019 prospects

Williams' 2019 driver Robert Kubica says he will remain cautious about the season that awaits the team in 2019. Williams is desperate to return competitiveness after a disastrous 2018 campaign saw it finish last in the constructors' championship with only seven points.

Kubica will step up from his development driver role to race for the team in 2019 and will partner Formula 2 champion George Russell. The driver pairing means that Williams has an all-new line up for this season, with the departure of 2018 drivers Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll.

"The situation of Williams is not easy. I’m very cautious and realistic," Kubica stated at a recent sponsorship event in Poland. "In winter every team is building a new car. We are also building a new car, we're finishing its production."

"The design of the car is very important and it’s very difficult to make up for a bad car. The team has drawn conclusions from its mistakes last year, so I think that's going to make things easier for us. In terms my co-operation and my technical contribution to the team, I'll do my best to put my best foot forward," he added.

Kubica returns to F1 after an eight year break due to sustaining life threatening injuries in an accident at the Ronde di Andora rally in 2011. Prior to his accident, he had raced for Sauber and Renault and took his only win at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix, after he was dubbed as a future star of the sport.

Kubica returned to professional racing with stints in the World Rally Championship with Citroen and Ford throughout 2012 and 2013, but believed a return to F1 was not possible given the extent of his lasting arm injuries. However, a 2017 test with Renault convinced Kubica to push for a return, and after a stint with Williams in 2018 as a development and reserve driver, he makes his eagerly awaited return to the grid this season.