Stroll: Kubica can help turn Williams’ F1 fortunes around

Lance Stroll has backed new Williams driver Robert Kubica to help turn around the team’s recent fortunes in Formula 1 in 2019.

Williams fell to the bottom of the constructors’ championship last season, managing just seven points in what proved to be a torrid year hampered by an underperforming FW41.

The British squad will field a revised driver line-up for the upcoming season with Kubica completing a remarkable comeback to the F1 grid after more than eight years away as a result of the severe injuries he sustained in a horrific rallying accident to link up with Formula 2 champion George Russell.

"Robert’s been very helpful,” said Stroll, who has switched from Williams to the rebranded Racing Point outfit for 2019.

“He just has a good view on things and he’s very passionate. I wish him all the best for [2019].

“His recovery’s been incredible, what he’s been through I couldn’t even imagine. It’s great to see him back on the grid.

“I’m sure the team can turn things around and I’m sure that he’ll be a big help.”

Deputy team principal Claire Williams praised the work carried out by Kubica in his role of reserve and development driver throughout 2018 and believes the 34-year-old Pole will prove a vital element of Williams’ recovery bid.

“Robert has played an instrumental part into the development of the FW41 and he is going to be a big part of helping us develop the FW42 and beyond that,” she explained.

“He has an extraordinary understanding of engineering and is a real pusher as well, he helps drive the engineers in what they’re doing and he pushes me.

“He talks to me at 2AM in airport lounges around the world around what has gone wrong, what we need to be doing. That’s great to see as we really need a driver pairing that can deliver that for us [in 2019].

“His fighting spirit, we need that in this team at the moment. We need everyone pushing. And I think Robert is going to be a really great addition for us for 2019 and beyond.”