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Williams announces Kubica as race driver for 2019

Robert Kubica's Formula 1 race return with the Williams for the 2019 season has been confirmed.

Scott Mitchell

Edited: Nov 22, 2018, 9:06 AM

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Robert Kubica, Williams Racing

As reported by Motorsport.com, the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix winner will partner George Russell at Williams in 2019 and end an absence from the F1 grid of more than eight years.

Kubica has not raced in F1 since the 2010 season finale, having suffered severe injuries to his right arm in a rally crash in early '11.

Securing a 2019 drive means Kubica completes a stunning comeback from the long-term injuries he sustained in that crash, which stopped him from racing for several years.

Kubica, who says he now drives "70%" left-handed, has not raced a single-seater since the last of his 76 grand prix starts.

He first returned to competitive action in rallying before making a circuit-racing comeback in the 2016 Mugello 12 Hours GT race.

Kubica completed a successful F1 test with Renault last year in a 2012 car before driving the contemporary Renault and Williams machinery in Hungary and Abu Dhabi respectively.

The Williams deal means the 33-year-old lands the seat he had originally targeted for this season before having to settle for a reserve driver role.

Kubica was also understood to have had a firm offer from Ferrari to take up a development role with the Italian team for 2019.

Robert Kubica, Williams FW41

Photo by: Andrew Hone / LAT Images

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