Kubica to make F1 comeback with Williams team in 2019

ABUDHABI:ROBERT Kubica, whose Formula One career seemed over when he partially severed his right forearm in 2011, will make his race comeback with Williams next season, the team announced on Thursday.

The 33-year-old, who won the Canadian Grand Prix with BMW Sauber in 2008, will partner British rookie George Russell at a once-dominant team that has fallen on hard times and is currently last in the standings.

“Being back on the F1 grid next season will be one of the greatest achievements of my life,” said Kubica, whose last Formula One race was in 2010 with Renault, of his remarkable turnaround.

Kubica served as Williams’ reserve and development driver this year after missing out on the race seat to Russian rookie Sergei Sirotkin, who has scored just one point from his 20 races to date. The Pole’s confirmation also means Canadian Lance Stroll will be moving to Force India, with Mercedes-backed Esteban Ocon resigned to a season on the sidelines as reserve.

‘MCLAREN WILL KEEP ALONSO ON SPEED DIAL’

WOKING, ENGLAND: Fernando Alonso is leaving Formula One after Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but Mclaren say they will not hesitate to seek his services again if needed. The double world champion has not ruled out a comeback, while recognising it as unlikely at 37 years old, but team boss Zak Brown said on Wednesday the Spaniard would be the first driver he called if there was a problem.

“We certainly wouldn’t hesitate, if we needed a driver that’s not one of our current two, to have Fernando be the first on the speed-dial list,” he said.

‘MACAU CIRCUIT NOT TO BE BLAMED FOR CRASH’

HONG KONG: The Macau Grand Prix’s street circuit is not to be blamed for 17-year-old Sophia Floersch’s horrific crash on Sunday, her team boss has said after the accident raised concerns about safety standards.

“I don’t think the accident was Macau-related,” Frits van Amersfoort said. “We also race in Pau (in France) and F1 also races on all kinds of street circuits. Macau is a special track, everyone knows that.” Brief scores: Mumbai 453 & 155 (Pragnesh Kanpillewar 26; H Shokeen 5/38) drew with Delhi 396 & 64/3 (A Badoni 40; A Poojari 2/24)

PUNJAB RALLY TO FRUSTRATE MUMBAI

After reducing Punjab to 16 for three, Mumbai let them off the hook as the visitors reached a respectable 254 for five on Day One of their Col CK Nayudu Trophy match at Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, BKC, on Thursday.

Brief scores: Punjab 254/5 (N Choudhary 78, A Garg 60, A Pandove 59; M Manjrekar 2/52) vs Mumbai