Kubica: 2019 gave me belief I can race at a high level

  • Published on 01 Dec 2019 11:52
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Robert Kubica says the last 12 months have injected him with belief that he can still race at a high level, despite the difficult 2019 campaign he has endured.

The Pole returned to a full-time race seat with Williams this year, partnering rookie George Russell at the team.

However, it was soon apparent that the Grove-based squad was far away from the rest of the competition on the grid, and was consistently competing at the rear of the field.

On Saturday in Abu Dhabi, Russell completed a 21-0 qualifying victory over Kubica this year. Kubica says that he felt comfortable during the opening practice session on Friday - adding that he thinks the changes were made to his teammate's car earlier in the season. 

"I think generally it hasn't been easy for George and myself and for sure, he did a very good job," Kubica said. "I struggled quite a lot many times with losing the feeling in the car.

"This was also the case here. In FP1, it was the best from one area. It was the only session where I felt comfortable this year in the car with one thing.

"It took a lot of races but it looks like the team is now on top of it. I had the opportunity to test it on Friday, it was probably used in the past with George. It doesn't matter really."

Kubica is set to retain a test and development role in Formula 1 next year, while he is also being lined up for a full-time race seat in DTM.

Despite his difficult year, Kubica says his return to F1 after nine years on the sidelines informs him that he is still able to compete at the highest levels in motorsport.

"In the end, when you are having such a difficult year, it changes very little if you are P18 or P20," Kubica said. "What counts is what is your personal feeling of what you did and what you could do better.

"It's difficult to look at it now because the season has been pretty negative. We are race drivers, you always want to get better results. So I think all this season has also been very difficult to judge where my personal performance could be, and where it is.

"But on the other hand, this season - and I think this is most important - it gave me belief that I can race on a high level in another championship.

"That's why my mind is on racing again next year because I think working with the team, whatever I will be doing, I can still have fun and I can still deliver. This is the most valuable outcome of this season.

Replies (0)

Login to reply

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