Robert Kubica has expressed that his comeback to Formula 1 in 2019 “couldn’t have gone worse.”
Formula 1 enthusiasts were filled with anticipation when the announcement came that Robert Kubica would be joining Williams in 2019. A highly regarded talent of his era, the Polish driver was given the chance to make a triumphant return to the racing grid.
However, in a recent interview with Przeglad Sportowy, the 39-year-old openly conceded that, despite his respect for the team, the choice to join Williams was, upon reflection, less than ideal.
Robert Kubica’s Formula 1 journey commenced in 2006, following his triumph in the Formula Renault 3.5 series the year before. Substituting for Jacques Villeneuve, he experienced three fruitful seasons with BMW Sauber, notably clinching the team’s only victory in Canada in 2008. Unfortunately, a serious crash in a rally series just before the 2011 season marked an abrupt halt to his F1 career. The incident resulted in significant injuries to his leg, shoulder, arm, and hand, necessitating an extensive period of recovery and rehabilitation for him to demonstrate his fitness once again.
In a remarkable comeback, eight seasons after his last Formula 1 race, Kubica found himself back on the grid with Williams in 2019. However, the fairy tale took an unexpected turn as he grappled with the challenges of driving the slowest car on the grid.
“Over the years, I have come to a certain awareness of the experience that I don’t need to race at all costs,” Kubica stated. “I want to find the right environment because I know what I need to feel good in it. And the current situation gives me a certain awareness of such mental comfort.
“There’s a second thought related to returning to F1—in terms of the sporting aspect with Williams, I couldn’t have done worse. To be fair, I have a lot of respect for that group because there were quite a few people who really knew what they were doing there. But unfortunately, we were at the wrong time and in the wrong place.”
Kubica’s tenure with Williams in 2019 resulted in a solitary point earned during the German Grand Prix, where he secured a 10th-place finish. Partnered with the debutant George Russell, the seasoned driver found himself alongside a young British talent.
Despite Russell consistently out-qualifying his more experienced teammate, neither driver managed to accrue additional points throughout the season. Russell has since ascended to prominent heights in F1, joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, while Kubica bid farewell to Williams at the conclusion of that season. He made a brief return to F1 with Alfa Romeo, participating in just two races in 2021.
