Autosportfoto

Williams deny Kubica F1 deal

Williams shoots down reports about a Formula 1 deal with Robert Kubica already being completed for the 2018 season with no announcement planned.

F1, Robert Kubica, Renault, Lotus E20, Valencia [Credit: Renault F1]
Williams has shrugged off reports that it has finalised a deal with Robert Kubica as part of its 2018 Formula 1 driver line-up to replace Felipe Massa.

Speculation has grown in recent days about an agreement being reached to see Kubica join Williams but the British team released a short statement to quell these stories and says it will announce any information once deals are formally completed.

"Although conversations are ongoing with Kubica, it is still yet to be finally decided who will replace Massa," a Williams statement read. "We will make an announcement when we have something to announce but nothing is planned this weekend in Abu Dhabi."

Kubica is expected to test for Williams in its current specification FW40 F1 car in Abu Dhabi after this weekend's race in a post-season tyre test, while Massa is preparing for his final farewell as he retires from the sport.

The Polish driver appears to be favourite to join Lance Stroll as the Williams driver line-up for 2018 but doubts still remain on his fitness having sustained a partially severed right forearm in a rallying crash in 2011 which abruptly halted his F1 career seven years ago.

Kubica has tested for Renault and Williams this year with the French manufacturer opting to take on Carlos Sainz Jr on loan from Red Bull for next season. The former F1 race winner in the running for a Williams race seat against the team's reserve driver Paul di Resta plus Daniil Kvyat and Pascal Wehrlein.

Zdroj: crash.net