Robert Kubica Is Back in F1

http://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/2018/01/williamsmartiniracingannouncesrobertkubicaas2018reserveanddevelopmentdriver

 

JANUARY 18, 2018

Kubica's race dream still alive says Rosberg


Nico Rosberg insists Robert Kubica's dream of returning to the formula one grid remains alive.

Legions of the Polish driver's fans are disappointed that Williams elected to instead sign the heavily-sponsored Russian Sergey Sirotkin for 2018.

But Kubica's co-manager, 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg, told Auto Motor und Sport that the test and reserve role the 32-year-old has secured is still positive.

"Robert will be able to do many kilometres," Rosberg said.

"For him, it's a mega contract and definitely a step in the right direction."

Kubica had put together an $8 million sponsorship purse for the race seat, but Auto Motor und Sport claims that he will actually be paid by Williams this year.

 

I hope to see him driving by the end of the season. Hopefully Sergey turns into a flop and they drop him and Robert steps into the seat.

 

..They already have a flop in Stroll's..and they won't ditch him...same with Sergey...as long as he brings the money, his seat is safe, no matter how badly he performs...

 

Can’t wait for the first tests when Kubica will give both of the official drivers a second a lap

 

I think, assuming all goes well and he shows really good speed, Kubica will more likely be given a seat by another team. The only way I seem him moving up at Williams is if the car is so bad that they need to blame one of the drivers and they up Kubica to replace him.

 

If confirmed, that's interesting - Williams claims they chose their drivers on merit only, and in spite of that they ask the "better" driver (Sirotkin) to pay a lot for the race seat, while they accept to pay for the other driver...
Also (again if confirmed) Kubica may be able to save some additional money to increase his contribution to find another seat.

 

I hope Robert impresses in tests, blows those two kids into the weeds, and gets a drive with a quick team that proceeds to hammer Williams down the order, it’s the only way to show them that their strategy of selling the seats is truly stupid and the quickest way to being the worst team in f1. Bearing in mind the rubbish at the back of the grid, Williams should not be back there with their history, but more and more with them and mclaren, it goes to show that history means nothing in today’s sport (well, show business )

 

JANUARY 22, 2018

Kubica could be considered for 2019 says Lowe


Robert Kubica could now be a contender to race for Williams in 2019.

The British team's technical boss and shareholder Paddy Lowe said he does not regret assessing the Pole's capabilities in a series of tests, even though Kubica was ultimately given only the reserve driver role.

"We organised a serious test programme for him and we will continue this process of assessing him," Lowe is quoted by Russia's Championat.

"Let's see where this leads."

When asked if the former BMW and Renault driver could race in 2019, Lowe answered: "Yes, perhaps."

However, there still may be no place for Kubica.

Team CEO Mike O'Driscoll is quoted as saying by Russian media: "We do not divulge the details, but the contract with Sergey (Sirotkin) is for several seasons.

"Together with Paddy, I want Williams to become world champions once again and Sergey is a part of that," he added.

O'Driscoll is quoted by Sport-Express as saying that Sirotkin's greatest strength is his "consistency".

"In the tests he was incredibly consistent," he said.

"Yes, many tracks are unfamiliar to him, but Sirotkin is very talented and a fast learner."

Many believe it was Sirotkin's big backing by the Russian bank SMP that gave him precedence over Kubica.

But SMP boss Boris Rotenberg insists: "Money is an important component, but Sirotkin is at Williams not because of money but because of the sporting factor.

"We are investing our money in technology instead," he told Tass news agency.

McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne also backed Sirotkin.

"Williams made a very good choice," he told La Derniere Heure newspaper.

"I competed against Sergey and he is a very good and very fast driver who works hard," the Belgian said. "He's faster than many believe."

Williams' Lowe agrees: "It is important that the drivers squeeze the last tenths from the car, and I can tell you that Sergey is very smart and very fast."

SMP racing director Dmitry Samorukov confirmed that Sirotkin's contract is for multiple years.

"We cannot disclose that information in detail, but it's one year or more," he told Sportbox. "Everything will depend on how Sergey will prove himself this year."

 

A bit mitigated here, isn't it, or is it that my french logic does not adapt to this communiqué?

"Paddy Loewe: if Kubica really wants to race Grand prix in 2019, he first has to earn himself a race seat"
Now...maybe there is a play on words on "earning" here, which, like in french, can mean "conquering" or "buying"...

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/134008/williams-kubica-has-got-to-earn-2019-race-seat

Rgds

 

We all know in wich department he has to improve Paddy..it's in the "money department". What a ****ing idiot this guy is..i never liked him, always talking like if he was the one responsible for Merc success, trying to eradicate brawn legacy, and now comes with this Bs about earning? earning what you idiot? Robert as proved more tha most on the grid and earned more than most..if you can't tell things like they are at least shut up!

 

Well, you shouldn't be too much upset, Pedro...
According to "Motorsport Magazine" (Mark Hughes) Williams' first choice as a driver for 2018, once it became clear that they would not give another year to Felipe Massa, was Fernando Alonso; contacts were indeed made, but Fernando declined...
(I Wonder with which money they would have paid him? He usually isn't cheap)
Rgds

 

I really don't care who they put in the seat, but some people should be more respectfull when they are talking a bout someone who as proven to be amongst the very best...something that paddy never will be in his line of work.

 

What might have been:

Robert Kubica: "I had a signed contract to drive for Ferrari in 2012; but then, the rallying accident put an end to this..."

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137348/kubica-i-had-signed-ferrari-deal-for-2012

Rgds

 

Ouch.

I saw Kubica up close in Montreal. That right hand does not look good.

 

I love this guy. The heartbreak of a this would be unbearable to most others with less testicular fortitude.

 

I would still love to see Kubica get a ten race run in any car that could use the story, and his input, to get better press and also move up the grid. Torro Rosso could give him Hartley's seat. McLaren could give him Vandoorne's seat. Hass could give him Grosjean's seat. Sauber could give him Ericsson's. But I would never suggest Kubica get on the track with a Williams...that car should be banned from the grid as a rolling chicane.

 

I may be alone, but I will be pragmatic in this: I don't think Kubica has a place in F1.
He is after all, a crippled individual; and would be considered an invalid in an industrial environment.
I am even surprised the FIA allows someone with severe disability to test F1 cars.

 

What clinical assessments have you done on Kubica that contradict the fitness evaluation of the FIA's medical team, doctor?

All the best,
Andrew.

 

None, obviously, but to be blunt, I think Kubica's injuries and disability don't make him fit to be in F1 anymore, and he shouldn't have a super license, IMO.
I have no doubt that he can satisfy the basic requirement, but his firness is certainly not to the level of an able-bodied person.
By his own admission, Kubica has apparently limited mobility in his right wrist and fingers, for example, making it difficult for him to operate the various buttons on the steering wheel.
Probably afraid not to be seen discriminating against a disabled person, the FIA has given him the green light for testing, but I think differently.

 

Such a shame...T

 

He's already proven he can drive an F1 car faster than any of us...probably faster than whoever of us is the fastest. What he has not had in seat time in a car that can be set up for him and with an engineer who will make changes in it for him. I'd like to see him have some full weekends...chances to cycle through FP 1, 2, 3 Qualifying and then some races. That would be the proof in the pudding.

 

Kubica would be getting better results than either of their current drivers.

 

Haas should kick Grosjean to the curb and give Kubica the seat. No way they keep Grosjean next year.

 

Grosjean's time is about up but I don't think that Kubica is the solution for Haas. I would put Leclerc or Gio in that seat.