Kubica signs with Williams for 2019 F1 return
Announcement crowns remarkable comeback for the former Renault driver
It’s been a long time coming. Robert Kubica, one of motorsport's most promising stars of the last decade, will return to the Formula 1 grid next year with Williams, it has been confirmed today. The 33-year-old Pole is back after eight years out of the sport, following his horror smash at the Ronde di Andora rally where he severely injured his right arm.
After years spent not knowing whether he’d ever be fit enough to compete at the highest level, Kubica returned to the track with Renault in 2017 and has since been working as Williams’ development driver. It now appears the 2008 Canadian GP winner has done enough to convince the British team he’s ready to go wheel-to-wheel with the sport’s best again.
“From the human point of view, I understand and see the point that it is a story that probably nobody has believed,” he said, referring to his chances of an F1 return only a couple of years ago. “Probably the only one who never gave up was myself and the people around me.”
Kubica, who will race alongside 20-year-old Brit and GP3 title winner George Russell at Williams, hasn’t sat on the F1 grid since the 2010 Abu Dhabi GP. He has 76 race entries to his name, with 12 podiums and one win from a four-year career. Before his rally accident, many labelled him as a future champion, including one of the sport’s fastest driver’s, Fernando Alonso.
While there's no doubt over his natural speed, there is an obvious question mark over Kubica's ability to still compete after such a long absence. His reactions will certainly have been kept sharp by competing in rallying - where he managed to accrue 14 stage wins from 33 entries into the World Rally Championship. But the higher G-loads of an F1 car have been a hindrance to his single-seater return thanks to a reduction in strength of his right forearm. Improving that has been the core focus of his rehabilitation.
"From the driving point of view, you just have to wait a few months and you will see,” he said. “If I would not be able to drive competitively enough, I would not be here.
"It is a normal way of thinking that people see my limitations and ask how it is possible I can do it, and I know it is hard to believe.”
With the loss of Alonso from the F1 grid next year, Kubica's remarkable return will certainly be a welcome feature of the 2019 season. Here's hoping he can hit the ground running and provide Lewis, Seb and Max with a few headaches.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The possibility that he may have overcome his injury to allow him to be competitive last season made the introduction of an obvious pay driver instead left a disappointing taste. That he has probably achieved the last piece of funding as a result of an embarrassing audio recording of the current Polish prime minister rejoicing in his injury years ago matters not.
This is now a great Formula 1 underdog story. It's part Rocky and part Brawn GP. I'm now genuinely excited about 2019.
Kubica!!!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The possibility that he may have overcome his injury to allow him to be competitive last season made the introduction of an obvious pay driver instead left a disappointing taste. That he has probably achieved the last piece of funding as a result of an embarrassing audio recording of the current Polish prime minister rejoicing in his injury years ago matters not.
This is now a great Formula 1 underdog story. It's part Rocky and part Brawn GP. I'm now genuinely excited about 2019.
Kubica!!!
Kubica!!!
Considering the enormous personal sums of money he has to give up (his insurance payouts when he was declared so badly injured he'll never race in F1 again need to be paid back should he race in F1 again...) I think this the result of misguided obsession, a feeling of unfinished business, not a genuine chance at a successful return.
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