Kubica: I was a Rookie in F1 Last Year

Robert Kubica was a fan favourite in his initial stint in F1, finishing on the podium in just his third race at Monza. He suffered an unfortunate rally car accident in 2011, which hampered his racing career post the incident.

He made his much anticipated return last year in a test for Renault at Hungary but Kubica feels his status as a former F1 driver hid his actual status of being a rookie.

“People thought I would jump in and would be the 2010 driver. Well, probably with a 2012 car, I could do it”, said Kubica. “It was so similar to what I knew.”

“The worst is, in Hungary, I couldn’t use anything I know from my past. It’s like a debut. You put a rookie driver in the car, with the history of one of the top drivers when he was racing.”

“So, you pretend something mega, but he is a rookie. Because I was a rookie”, he added.

The Pole took part in a couple of test sessions for Renault and the Williams during the in-season testing of the 2017 season and the rumours of him driving for an F1 team in 2018 intensified.

But the tests didn’t seem to impress the bosses enough as Sergey Sirotkin got the last remaining seat in the F1 roster. He explained the possible reasons why he lost out on the chance to race in F1 again.

“Because of my limitations it’s not enough that I do the same as the others. I have to do more. To do more, I have to have time in the car”, Kubica stated.

“That’s why it was so fundamental that when Williams offered me a role this year that I have some time in the car.”

Kubica also outlined his goal- to return to F1 racing next year. “With who, I don’t know. It’s becoming more natural. Motorsport, we often forget is a sport you need to practice, you need to do it”, he signed off.