Robert Kubica is looking increasingly more likely to secure the second race seat at Williams Racing next year alongside new comer, George Russell.
After a two year stint with the British team as a test driver in 2017 and a reserve and development driver in 2018, Kubica has made an impact and has now made his decision as to where he will be next year.
At an event in northern Poland a few days ago, the Pole made a statement - "I have made my decision." A vague but firm statement which has sparked many to believe he will be promoted to the race seat at Williams Racing for 2019.
Kubica made his first F1 race debut in 2006 for the then BMW Sauber F1 Team. He stayed there for three years and in 2010 became a Renault F1 driver where he scored a total of 3 podiums. However, during the off season of 2011 Kubica entered a rally competition in which he severed his right arm. Before this, he was in the runnings for one of the most highly regarded teams in the Paddock, Ferrari! Unfortunately, after his accident the opportunity to race for such a team had disappeared.
However, Kubica didn't give up his love of racing just yet. He returned to rallying just a year later, in 2012, Kubica continued rallying until 2017 when he partnered with Williams Racing. Robert still believes he can compete at such a level even with his injuries. And considering he was in the runnings for a seat at Ferrari, who knows..? It would be a racing fairytale.
Kubica was reportedly torn between a drive at Williams Racing or a test role at Ferrari. However, he is believed to have secured enough funds from a Polish oil company PKN Orlen as such, he may have also secured his positioning at Williams Racing.
Robert has also been quoted earlier this year as having said, "Will I be at Williams next year? I hope. There are only two teams that officially have places next year, and I will definitely not go to Toro Rosso."
With this in mind, it officially puts Esteban Ocon out of the runnings for a race seat in Formula One for the 2019 season.
Some believe Williams Racing are holding off on any official announcements until Force India announce the movements of Lance Stroll, who currently races for Williams to move to the Silverstone based team. One thing that is for sure is that Lance Stroll moving to Force India is the worst kept secret around the F1 Paddock!
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