Logic, not emotion. Why Williams didn’t choose Kubica

Ivan Zinchenko on why the Williams Formula 1 team did not sign Robert Kubica as the main pilot.

From the start, this story was too good to be true. Robert Kubica, who was once called one of the most promising Formula 1 pilots, gets a second chance and the opportunity, in fact, another debut 7 years after a terrible accident? I didn’t believe it. Especially after the cameras pulled out Kubica’s mangled hand during one of the press conferences, which looked almost mechanical. All this is the result of a terrible accident during a rally race. Then, in 2011, the driver had a contract with the Renault team and had a great pre-season test, but in February, before the decisive stage of preparation for the start of the championship, he took part in the rally and had an accident that almost cost him his life.

Then many said that Robert was just lucky not to remain disabled (amputation of part of his arm, leg and shoulder injuries), and you can forget about Formula 1. Kubica himself spoke about this, but intense training and focus on his dream gave him a chance to return. First in the rally, and in 2017, the pilot first tested the F-1 car of previous years, and then got the opportunity to test it on the current Renault car.

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Still, the ambitions of the French factory team were too high to invite a 33-year-old racer, but then tests took place for the more modest Williams, and this seemed like a very realistic option. The British team already knew that Filipe Massa was ending his career in F-1, and Kubica looked like a good option for a couple for 19-year-old Lance Stroll.

The fabulous return of Kubica was also supported by the reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Briton bluntly said that Robert, even after his injury, is stronger than 2/3 of the current F-1 squad.

Bahrain GP, ​​2006 F1 debut during practice (BMW Sauber)
Hungarian GP, ​​2006 Debut in the race, immediately 7th place (result disqualified, BMW Sauber)
Canadian GP, ​​2007 A terrible accident, there were no consequences (BMW Sauber)
Bahrain GP, ​​2008 First qualifying win (BMW Sauber)
Canadian GP, ​​2008 First win in F1 (BMW Sauber)
October 2009 Signed a contract with Renault
February 2011 Fastest in pre-season testing in Valencia (Reno)
February 2011 A terrible accident in a rally race. In fact, the end of a career in F-1
Summer-autumn 2017 Tested an F-1 car for the first time in six years (Renault), tests for Williams
January 2018 Reserve pilot Williams signed

Another thing is that earlier, together with Kubica, Renault reservist Sergei Sirotkin, who became an unexpected favorite for a place in Williams, also conducted tests. It is reported that Sirotkin rode at the pace of Robert during the test session, but he handled rubber much better, which was one of the decisive factors. Other factors we would name the age of 22-year-old Sirotkin, as well as the financial support of the Russian sponsors behind him. Kubica simply does not have such opportunities.

Many did not understand the choice of Williams and said that the team simply took the money and abandoned the talent. Recall that Stroll himself has the support of his billionaire father, who also arranged private tests for his son, and, obviously, pays for his place in the team. That being said, unlike Jacques Villeneuve, we wouldn’t call Stroll the worst rookie in F1 history. He spent the first season on a difficult car with dignity, losing only three points to the most experienced Massa.

Still, aside from wanting to see Kubica’s incredible return to F1, Williams’ decision is understandable, even if financial was a key factor. You need to understand what the team can expect in the new season and the coming years in general. It is clear that the top 3 Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull cannot be moved by the British. Even with the new regulations, where there was a chance to find some loopholes and take the lead, Williams failed in the 2017 championship and finished fifth, losing to Force India by more than 100 points.

Will it get better next season? Doubtful. With Kubica, let alone Hamilton and Vettel in the squad, the team is unlikely to fight for a place higher than fourth, but here we need to remember the gradual progress of Renault, which has huge factory resources, and McLaren’s ambitions. There is a feeling that the fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship in 2018 will be more of a pleasant surprise for Williams than an objective task.

If we take the same Force India with a similar budget, then this team has had an advantage in pilots in recent years. Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Pérez, according to some experts, would not be lost in the top teams, and these two experienced and stable riders have certainly helped Force India with work on the cars of all these seasons. Hulkenberg left, and in his place they took the most promising Esteban Okon, who had a phenomenal debut season. Toto Wolff is already calling the Frenchman a future star.

twitter.com/williamsracing

Williams did not have such luck with the pilots, and the level of the car, as already mentioned, is unlikely to allow him to fight for the top 3. And Kubica won’t make much of a difference here. On the other hand, Sirotkin is younger, still promising (we don’t know what he is really capable of) and can bring in additional sponsorship money (according to various sources, about 15 million euros). The choice, unfortunately, is not in favor of Robert and his incredible return. But Kubica took the step towards F1 anyway, as he said on Tuesday.

“My key goal is to race in an F1 car again. And I got closer to fulfilling my task. I am enjoying my return to the paddock and now I look forward to working at Williams both at the base and in the championship stages, ”said Kubica.

The pilot received the status of a reserve rider and will participate in test sessions, as well as individual practice runs. Better than nothing. And if suddenly one of the main pilots fails, then Williams will not need to go far, there is Kubica.

A smart decision by Williams’ leadership.


Source: Sportarena

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