Robert Kubica insists he is ready to step up into a Formula 1 race seat with Williams Martini Racing this year, should the rumoured driver shuffle involving Lance Stroll occur over the coming weeks.
The newly-relaunched Racing Point Force India F1 Team is making its first start this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps following the acquisition of the Sahara Force India F1 Team by a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll, and his son has now been linked with an almost immediate move away from Williams, perhaps as soon as next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix or, more likely, the following Singapore Grand Prix.
Kubica, who is the official third and reserve driver at Williams in 2018, is first in line to replace Stroll should he displace Esteban Ocon at Force India, and he has no doubts that should he be called upon to race, he would be ready and able to do so.
“I feel ready because otherwise I would not sign a contract with Williams for this year,” said Kubica to Motorsport.com. “So it’s on my desk that, ‘You have to keep being ready and in case something happens, you have to step up’.
“Of course, it is not easy when you have to drive against the top drivers in the middle of the season. Although I have some opportunities to drive the car, you still lack experience, but you have to do it.
“I also think when Williams approached me for this role, they also have no doubts that I can do it. But what’s happening currently and a lot of speculation is not affecting myself.
“I’m doing my job and then what the future will bring, we will see.”
Kubica says he is not taking anything for granted that he will get the call, feeling he will need to be in the right place at the right time, but he told Williams at the beginning of the season that he was ready to race at whichever circuit he was needed.
“Sometimes you have to be in the right place in the right moment with a bit of luck and have people who are believing in you,” he said. “In the end, when I said that I could drive, I meant all season.
“So, I know I went through different tests. First with Renault and then with Williams. I’m confident that I could do it.”
