Robert Kubica says he will need to consider racing in a different championship should he not find a place on the Formula 1 grid in 2019, although the Polish driver insists returning to a race seat for the first time since 2010 in the sport remains a priority.
After his life-threatening rallying crash in early 2011 that cost Kubica his career in Formula 1, he has gradually fought his way back onto the scene, firstly testing with the Renault Sport Formula One Team before in 2018 becoming the official reserve driver for Williams Martini Racing.
A race seat could still materialise in 2018 should Lance Stroll exit Williams and make his expected move to the Racing Point Force India F1 Team, with Kubica the first in line for the drive should that happen, however the should he not get a drive either this year or next, he will consider his future options.
“I spent a lot of time and effort to have a chance and the priority would be to be on the starting grid in Australia,” said Kubica to Motorsport.com. “But if this doesn’t happen I would consider some different championship or different role.
“As I said, now I’m focused on trying to get a chance.”
Kubica remains convinced that he can do a good job behind the wheel, but he acknowledges that it would take time for him to get back into the rhythm after such a long time away from racing, and even top stars in other sports take a while to get back to the level they were before injury.
“When you don’t do it for long time or you do it like I do it, every three months, it’s normal that you have to go through different phases in order to get back your rhythm, get back feelings as natural as possible,” said Kubica.
“If you would take even the best tennis player and you say to him: now you stop for six years. Even without injuries, nothing. Then you give him one hour training and smash him into the final of Wimbledon, he will probably struggle more than all the people who are playing regularly.
“I would have so much time in the car [if he had raced this season], there would be no more question marks about myself.”
