Robert Kubica was tempted by Ferrari reserve role. Robert Kubica was tempted by Ferrari reserve role.

Robert Kubica has said it was “not easy to say no” to Ferrari about becoming their reserve and development driver in 2019. The Scuderia had both Daniil Kvyat and Antonio Giovinazzi at their disposal throughout the 2018 campaign, but both are now fully-fledged drivers on the 2019 grid with Toro Rosso and Sauber respectively.

That left Kubica an opportunity to finally join the team he was supposed to be racing for before his rally accident brought an abrupt end to that particular dream. But Kubica revealed that the racer in him eventually swayed him toward taking a full-time role with Williams as one half of their 2019 line-up.

“I knew what I would have liked to do, but sometimes things are a bit more complicated than they look from the outside,” Kubica told Autosport – “I had some opportunity which I think was very interesting and it was not easy to say no. In the end, I am a racing driver – even though I haven’t been racing for quite a long time – and this racing mentality has won out. I’m happy to have made this decision because it is a big challenge.” – he added.

Kubica also has no doubts that he still has the hunger and desire to take on what the full Formula 1 experience throws his way: “It’s not easy to become an F1 driver: it’s not easy to convince people you can do it and establish yourself in an F1 paddock,” said Kubica – “You have to have a lot of drive to do it because I went through this 12 years ago, and in the end, I said I think I have the energy to do it again. I’m not worried or scared of this challenge and I think I can make it work. I have a great opportunity and it is a happy ending to the long journey I have been on.”

Robert Kubica is also mindful of the fact that now, with his greater role compared to 2018, comes with greater responsibility: “When I’m driving the car I have to keep in mind that I have to give quality information and feedback, and that I’m able to deliver good pace and not risk anything,” said Kubica – “I have to change this approach a bit because now I have to work more for a team, as I was, but now also for myself. I need to focus on different things which might be useful when I am racing. “It’s a bit of a different approach.”