Kubica gets FP1 outing in Budapest
Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN reserve driver, Robert Kubica, will return to the cockpit at the Hungaroring, as he takes part in the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Friday – on a special weekend for him and the team.
The Polish driver will step into Kimi Räikkönen’s car at the very Budapest track where he made his Formula One comeback in 2017, during a testing session – then, his first time in an F1 single-seater following his eight-year hiatus from the sport.
The driver from Krakow has already tested the Swiss-Italian team’s car, taking part in the first free practice session in Spain and Austria. His third outing will see Kubica work on the team’s development programme, helping with his technical feedback.
Alfa Romeo communicated that “Robert’s special weekend will extend beyond the track, for he will be the focus of attention for many of the fans attending the race.
“With Budapest one of the favourite race weekend destinations for his fellow Poles, the team will be going the extra mile to deliver a special experience to all fans: a dedicated Team Booth, placed in the popular silver Fan Zone, will feature the team’s car and race equipment, while there will be a rich programme of virtual fan meet & greet sessions, special merchandise offers and much more,” read a statement.
Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN, said:“Robert has done a really good job for the team so far this season and we’re excited to see him back in the car in Budapest. His technical feedback has really helped us in setting up the car and we are confident he can help us extracting even more from our package as the season progresses.”
Commenting on his third outing, Kubica added: “It’s always great to be back in the car, especially so in Budapest which is the closest race to Poland on the calendar. There are always a lot of Polish fans on the stands and I know there will be a lot of flags to welcome me when I head of out the garage on Friday.
"Of course, once you’re in the car, the focus is on doing the best possible job for the team and on helping our engineers with the set-up of the car. The margins are really small in the midfield so every improvement can be crucial.”
