Williams hope Kubica can tick all the right boxes

LONDON: Williams are hoping Robert Kubica (pic) ticks all the right boxes in Abu Dhabi testing this week as the Pole moves closer to an astonishing Formula One comeback with the former world champions.

With the season ending in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the attention turns to a tyre test at the Yas Marina circuit and the remaining seats to be filled on the 2018 starting grid.

Williams have the most coveted one, with Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa retiring. Kubica, who partially severed his right forearm in 2011 and has not raced in Formula One for seven years, looks the favourite.

The 32-year-old will drive for Williams on both days, with the test much more than just an evaluation of Pirelli’s 2018 compounds.

“The evaluation process is ongoing,” Williams head of performance engineering Rob Smedley told Sky Sports.

“We’re going to be doing more of that this week. There’s no reason for us to rush into it. We are the best remaining seat so we have that advantage in our armoury. We can wait and we can evaluate every little bit and do all the due diligence necessary.”

Smedley confirmed that Kubica, who also tested with Williams in October, would have to pass all the FIA medical tests to be granted a super-licence.

“That’s part and parcel of our evaluation with him,” he said.

“It’s not about seeing ultimately what sort of lap times he can do in Abu Dhabi on a morning and unrepresentative track but really just going through all the ‘tick boxes’ that we’ve set for him. I hope we have a decision by Christmas.”

Rivals for the seat include Germany’s Pascal Wehrlein, but Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff played that down at the weekend. — Reuters