Kubica: "I'm not driving one-handed"
Robert Kubica has insisted he is not driving one-handed and is in better physical shape than when he was last racing in Formula 1 back in 2010.
The Pole is bidding to return to F1, six years after suffering life-threatening injuries from a rally crash in 2011, with Williams.
He drove a 2017 Williams on day one of Pirelli tyre test at Yas Marina, completing 100 laps and trying a range of tyres.
Kubica will return to the car on Wednesday for a couple more hours of running, when he is set to focus more on performance runs, at Yas Marina.
There have been some concerns about his fitness, particularly regarding the use of his right arm, but Kubica moved to dispel those fears.
“There is someone saying I’m driving one-handed, I’m not driving one-handed,” he said. “I think it’s impossible to drive a Formula 1 car with one hand.
“But I have some limitations so in some way my body used some compensations, which is not wrong.
“We are human beings and our brains are used to help our bodies overcome disabilities. This is normal daily life.
“This is something I think I’m on top of.”
Kubica has undergone an intensive training regime this season in a bid to make sure he’s in shape to cope with the increased demands of the new generation of F1 cars.
“Physically I think I have done a great work, good work in the last six months,” he said. “It hasn’t been easy, it was not like I have been lying in my bed.
“Probably I’m in physically in my best shape, by far a better shape than I was when I was racing in 2010. So motivation is there and the body is reacting in a good way.
“Of course, I’m starting nearly from scratch because Formula 1 has changed so much in the last seven years that it’s like nearly starting from zero.
“But my experience which I gained in the years I was racing in Formula 1 helped me to get on top of the learning process quicker than it used to be in the past.”
Kubica faces competition from Sergey Sirotkin, Daniil Kvyat and Paul di Resta for the second seat but is the overwhelming favourite to get the green light.
Previous article
Analysis: Lots of pointers for 2018 from on track decisions in Abu Dhabi 2017
Next article
Raikkonen tops first day of Abu Dhabi F1 test
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Abu Dhabi November testing |
| Location | Yas Marina Circuit |
| Drivers | Robert Kubica |
| Teams | Williams |
| Author | Lawrence Barretto |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
