Official: Kubica to complete F1 racing comeback with Williams

Williams has confirmed Robert Kubica will complete his Formula 1 comeback after signing a deal to race for the team in 2019.

After recruiting Mercedes junior George Russell for his F1 debut earlier this year, Kubica had been strongly linked with a move into the second race seat next year, with Lance Stroll bound for Force India and Sergey Sirotkin struggling to secure the required backing.

Kubica, who was named test and reserve driver at Williams at the start of 2018, will complete the team’s driver line-up next season to cap a remarkable comeback from injury.

The Polish driver was forced out of F1 at the start of 2011 when he sustained a horrific rallying accident on the first stage of Ronde di Andora and sustained a partially-severed right forearm that threatened to end his racing career.

Despite recovering from his serious injuries, initially competing in WRC between 2013-2016, Kubica began eyeing an F1 return. 

After linking up with former team Renault for a series of F1 tests, the one-time grand prix winner was overlooked by the team for a seat, which led to the Pole testing with Williams at the end of 2017 with the aim of securing a full-time drive.

But after missing out to Sirotkin, having to settle for a reserve role this year, Kubica has been seen as a key member of the team despite its wretched F1 season with the slowest car on the grid.

Both Williams and Kubica are hopeful of fresh starts in 2019 with an overhaul in the British team’s technical department which sees Rob Smedley leaving the team.

Paddy Lowe, who joined Williams as chief technical officer at the start of 2017, has been partnered with former McLaren colleague Doug McKiernan who was recruited last February to become chief engineer of its technical department.

With Kubica signing for Williams, it leaves just two spots left to fill on the 2019 F1 grid: the second seat at Force India, which is expected to be taken by Stroll, and the final place at Toro Rosso.