Robert Kubica was the first driver to take to the track in the Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN C39 during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the Pole settling into the team after joining them during the off-season after a year with ROKiT Williams Racing.
Kubica will act as the third and reserve driver for Alfa Romeo in 2020, playing support to race drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, and the thirty-five-year-old completed fifty-nine laps of the Spanish circuit on Wednesday morning before he handed the car over to Giovinazzi.
The fan favourite, who scored Williams’ only point of 2019 in what was an extremely difficult season for both driver and team, felt it was a positive morning behind the wheel in Barcelona, although he acknowledges that it was very early days to work out whether or not the C39 will be competitive in 2020.
“As you can imagine, it has been a very special day for the team and also for myself, having worked with Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN for the first time on the track,” said Kubica, who returns to the Hinwil-based team having driven for them in their previous guise of the BMW Sauber F1 Team.
“Driving a new car, the new baby of the team, always represents a lot of emotions, but having a productive day is what really mattered.
“I think the session was quite smooth for us, although there are still many things to be tested. in the end, though, it has been a good start.”
Kubica is likely to be given a second half-day of testing during the second test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week.
