Robert Kubica is very likely to drive for Williams in the post-season test at Abu Dhabi, Paddy Lowe has said.
The team’s chief technical officer told Sky Deutschland they intend to evaluate Kubica in one of the days of running at the Yas Marina circuit following the season finale. He has already driven for them in a private test at Silverstone.
“Almost certainly we will give him one of the tyre test days after Abu Dhabi,” said Lowe. “This is a subject that’s getting a lot of attention, I notice, but it’s something we’re working on internally so we won’t tell anyone what we’re doing at this stage.”
Lowe did not confirm whether Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein would also take part in the test. The team is seeking a replacement for Felipe Massa alongside Lance Stroll, who will remain with them next year.
Kubica is bidding for a return to Formula One since suffering severe injuries to his right arm and body in a rally crash in 2011. He tested privately for Renault in Valencia and Paul Ricard before joining them for the public F1 test at the Hungaroring earlier this year. But they later signed Carlos Sainz Jnr.
There are few places left on the grid for 2018. The only teams left to confirm their line-ups are Williams, Toro Rosso and Sauber. The Red Bull junior team is expected to keep its new drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley. Sauber is tipped to retain Marcus Ericsson while dropping Wehrlein to make way for Formula Two champion Charles Leclerc.
The two day test at Yas Marina on November 28th and 29th is open to all the teams and will be used by Pirelli to finale their 2018 tyre specifications.
Thanks to Pawel Wroniecki for the tip.
Nickkkkk
11th November 2017, 12:01
Fingers crossed he gets a drive.
Jere (@jerejj)
11th November 2017, 12:13
”Robert Kubica is very likely to drive for Williams in the post-season test at Abu Dhabi”
– I don’t really intend to be a grammar nazi, LOL, but what’s with the usage of ‘at’ in place of ‘in’ when it comes to the GP host cities in F1? Abu Dhabi is a city, so, therefore, it should read ‘in’ Abu Dhabi rather than ‘at’ Abu Dhabi.
Aaditya (@neutronstar)
11th November 2017, 12:40
@jerejj “at Abu Dhabi” could be referring to the track facility in the city and not the city itself…whereas “in Abu Dhabi” is not particularly specific and could mean any location in the city.
I’m not sure, though..
Jere (@jerejj)
11th November 2017, 14:08
@neutronstar ‘at Yas Marina Circuit’ is the most specific way to express it.
Nigel
11th November 2017, 12:40
I believe this is simply an example of synecdoche – a figure of speech where the whole can stand for the part (or vice versa).
In this case, the country name stands for the circuit itself – and one would be quite correct on saying “at Yas Marina” I think ?
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
11th November 2017, 23:34
I used to be a grammar Nazi but as my daughter keeps telling me, language is fluid especially when context in known and its not an instruction. In this case ‘at’ or ‘in’ makes no difference. We know the Williams will be driven at the track and not in the city, although in the city my me more interesting!
My daughter has an English Language degree first, a Masters and will complete her PHD this year. She tells me even double negatives are okay now if used for emphasis. This is common in other languages. To an old man like me it feels so wrong.
Eric (@fletch)
11th November 2017, 12:31
What is Kubica’s backing like compared to the other choices? I think this will also be an important factor.
He’s guaranteed to sell more Williams merch than any other choice!
kpcart
11th November 2017, 12:55
very good. Lotos who sponsored him in WRC, is a rich petroleum company and have already said if he makes a return to F1 they will back him. he also as of a few months ago has a new personal sponsor in Olimp a sports nutrition company, and they have been making tv ads with him. they also tweeted an ominous tweet the day Massa retired, they retweeted his message with a simple comment of “Hmm”. Williams will get money and speed and Martini will also be happy.
Eric (@fletch)
11th November 2017, 14:28
Just watched Massa interview on Sky. Massa said that money is a major factor in his retirement. So sounds like best driver with best money will be the choice.
Mustavo Gaia
11th November 2017, 12:50
i will be most surprised if Kubica were picked.
I will be most annoyed when, if Kubixa was picked, people start to question “Was it good to hire Kubica after the hiatus and the accidents” as soon as he is even a gigathousandth slower than the ohter driver at Williams.
joe jopling (@jop452)
11th November 2017, 13:17
Rest Stroll for the last race, and let Kubica have the drive….much better than a tyre test day….and they can see how capable he now is…and nothing lost
Luca Nuvolari (@nuvolari71)
11th November 2017, 18:03
stroll out? serous? his dad pays for the team. Possibly Massa out for Robert
Esploratore (@esploratore)
12th November 2017, 1:12
It’s money vs performance, if you look at their performance, beyond points which don’t keep mechanical reliability into account, massa is destroying stroll most times, stroll is only there cause of money, so would make more sense to let him miss a race than massa’s last race, since he can actually get in points positions more often.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
11th November 2017, 15:40
Are they that desperate to get an “older” driver that they keep trying Kubica? Shouldn’t it be clear by now if he is fast enough or not? Renault clearly felt that Kuba wasn’t fast enough seeing how his lap times were close to Palmers’ but sill way slower than Hulkenberg’s.
kpcart
12th November 2017, 7:08
you don’t know what you are talking about. his times were actually faster on long runs than palmer and hulkenburg… and never did a qualifying run. but it was a TEST, you cannot compare – different fuel loads etc. you don’t know the true reason they didn’t hire Kubica, its more likely a better deal came along financially with still a strong driver. since then Kubica went back to the drawing board, got Nico Rosberg in who helped broker sponsorship money. now Kubica has pace and money to offer a team.
Peter
12th November 2017, 9:01
i was there at hungaroring and yes he was unable to do quali laps as red flag was raised just before end of session. In fact he was like 0,2 slower than Hulk but with unknown fuel level and was testing new settings for front wing. Uncomparable story. Grid says he is fast as he was before and limitations are not an issue any more.
Renault give up on him per engine deal….but i think they will not succeed in long term with that strategy.
Luca Nuvolari (@nuvolari71)
11th November 2017, 18:04
You guys have no idea how good is Kubica then…
kpcart
15th November 2017, 12:40
Matteo Bobbi, friend of Kubica put up a great cryptic photo on twitter of the dalara simulator and an abu dhabi map on 1 screen. it was too obvious Kubica is testing in a simulator for oncoming Abu Dabi test.