Pole to drive Williams' 2017 car for first time; Kubica to share driving duties with Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin
Thursday 14 February 2019 15:46, UK
Williams have confirmed Robert Kubica will complete a third test for the team in Abu Dhabi next week, in which he will drive their 2017 car for the first time.
The Pole will drive the FW40 on both days of Williams' Pirelli tyre test as the team make their final assessments ahead of announcing their 2018 driver line-up.
Kubica will drive in the morning session on Tuesday before handing over to current race driver Lance Stroll in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, Russian Sergey Sirotkin, currently Renault's reserve driver, will drive in the morning with Kubica back in the car in the afternoon
Kubica, who suffered career-wrecking injuries in a rally crash in 2011, is believed to be the leading candidate to be Lance Stroll's team-mate next season following Felipe Massa's retirement.
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Current Williams reserve driver Paul di Resta, former Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat and Mercedes junior and Sauber driver Pascal Wehrlein are understood to be the other contenders for the seat.
Kubica has already completed two one-day tests for Williams in 2017, driving their 2014-spec car at Silverstone and the Hungaroring in October.
The 32-year-old's F1 career had appeared to be over when he sustained serious arm and hand injuries in a rallying accident in February 2011, but his performance in a test for Renault at Valencia in June has placed him on the comeback trail.
This test will mark the second time Kubica has driven a current era F1 car, having driven Renault's RS17 at the Hungaroring in August.
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