Kubica: Car feels completely different to teammate Russell's

  • Published on 29 Mar 2019 20:56
  • comments 7
  • By: Coilin Higgins

Williams' Robert Kubica feels he is driving a "completely different" car to teammate George Russell after finishing a second down on his rookie teammate in today's second practice in Bahrain. Unlike Melbourne, both drivers ran identical setups in the practice session.

Kubica cannot understand why there is such a difference in the timesheets, and believes that the data is showing the two cars as having different aerodynamic characteristics to each other.

He also ruled out any damage that the car could've sustained, as in Melbourne, Kubica suffered from floor damage.

"At least we understood that in Australia I ran a different set-up than George and we could clearly see the different characteristics in the cars," Kubica said. "Here we started with the same set-up and the characteristic is still different."

Kubica explained that due to the ongoing problems with a shortage of parts within the team that the floor would not be fully repaired in time for the race in Bahrain, and noted also that the overall car behaviour was making things very difficult when pushing the car on the limit.

"It's looking strange, to be honest, and it's putting me in a very difficult position to drive the car," Kubica added. "Additionally, if I try to follow it up with some balance shift I have to reduce the grip a lot and the potential of the car.

"Neither way is good. I make it more drivable, I am slow. I make it, let's say, as it should be and it's undrivable.

"It's a very, very difficult situation. I just hope that we will be able to solve it and if we are able to solve it will probably be the first time I am driving the car with better potential."

Replies (7)

Login to reply
  • I wonder whether there is any truth to this, and his car is set up wrong, or it's him hiding just how much his handicap plays in. This is why i was very cautious about my expectations about him, and will continue to be so for a time to come. Like I've said before, it is amazing enough that he is back on the grid and can race at all.

    • + 0
    • Mar 29 2019 - 21:12
    • I think everyone has those doubts but there have been a few cases in the recent past when one car of a team isn't behaving right and it takes some time to figure out, so it's not unheard of. I'd give him a chance to drive the other car if possible and see what happens. Williams doesn't seem to be doing well with their car so it may take a long time to get to the bottom of his problems.

      • + 0
      • Mar 30 2019 - 02:20
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Calle we are both thinking the same way. I hope there is something wrong with the car but i fear it is time and physical limitations that are the cause.

    • + 0
    • Mar 29 2019 - 22:32
  • wronatlen

    Posts: 6

    I agree with Your fears, but there is some unbelievable and unseen if F1 reasons - in fp2 his max speed on straights was around 285kph. He doesn't used 8 gear and drs. There is got to be something wrong except grip and handling with that car.
    Of course I'm aware of Kubica physics, but those situation has place (at least) when he was in race sim, and he has got around +7,5s to vettels time. Next hulk and Riccardo had around +7 without such problems. So there's a hope.. :)

    • + 0
    • Mar 30 2019 - 01:41
  • Sadtomato

    Posts: 48

    The team will want to get to the bottom of this so I expect they will replace the chassis for the next race or swap them over if they have no spare. It might even give them some clues where to go next.

    • + 0
    • Mar 30 2019 - 10:40
  • maalibu

    Posts: 17

    In race sim Williams was... not soooo bad. Robert has great understanding of a Car. He might be bit slower than George but He isent talking BullS****. Williams ...Oh Patrick Head - It will be a mounitain to climb.

    • + 0
    • Mar 30 2019 - 10:43
  • Kean

    Posts: 692

    I remember Nasr having similar complaints when Ericsson was outperforming him, he got a new chassis and things got a bit better. However I think that Sirotkin really was faster than Kubica last year, and Sirotkin wasn’t really that fast so... That being said, it could also be that Russell is the new Alonso in getting the most out of a crappy car.

    • + 0
    • Mar 30 2019 - 10:56

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country PL
  • Date of b. Dec 7 1984 (39)
  • Place of b. Krakau, PL
  • Weight 72 kg
  • Length 1.83 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar