planetf1.com

Some more numbers for the statheads. What's frustrating is that the only real yardstick we have for Kubica is Heidfeld so it's interesting to turn that round and see how Kubica ranks amongst Heidfelds (many) teammates.

This is their av finish position when both finished:

NH vs Teammate (races): NH - Teammate = Diff

Heidfeld vs Villeneuve (7): 8.1-10.1 = -2
Heidfeld vs Alesi (1): 12-14 = -2
Heidfeld vs Pantano (3): 13.7-15.3 = -1.67
Heidfeld vs Glock (3): 11.3-12.3 = -1
Heidfeld vs Frentzen (8): 9.9-10.3 = -0.38
Heidfeld vs Petrov (6): 9.5-9.7 = -0.17

Heidfeld vs Kubica (43): 7.4-7.4 = -0.01*

Heidfeld vs Massa (8): 7.4-7.1 = 0.25
Heidfeld vs Räikkönen (7): 6.9-6.3 = 0.57
Heidfeld vs Webber (6): 8.3-7.7 = 0.67
Heidfeld vs Kobayashi (4): 11.3-9.8 = 1.5

*rounding. Numbers are actually 7.395 - 7.405


Make of that what you will/want to but with these numbers Massa, Raikkonen Webber and Kobayashi (!) all managed to beat Heidfeld more convincingly than Kubica did.

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"I'd rather lose a race going fast enough to win it, than win one going slow enough to lose it".
-Stirling Moss

Agreed with this. Button always looked like a superior driver to Rubens. And we have direct comparison between them, which Button won. Not much more to say really?

Still it's being selective with experience when in their primary years it's given so much importance, in Kubica's third season he got beat by Heidfeld, in Vettel's third season he was the world champion.

With Kubica it seems to go down the road a bit of the driver that makes the fewest mistakes is better even like in 2010 when that driver only finished 8th in the WDC and had a rookie teammate that makes an out and out performance comparisons even more difficult.

Vettel when on to be better in cutting out the mistakes he was making but not so much much in ultimate speed I would say after his third season whereas Kubica's third season lacked a bit of performance.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

All you need to know about Kubica.

[quote="pokerman"]
I agree Kubica was underwhelming in 2009. He would have beaten Heidfeld in points though had in not been for Vettel in Australia. Would Kubica have been so much of a better driver had that not happened and he had beaten Heidfeld.

Hamilton on Kubica -

. “He’s better than three quarters of the grid. He’s one of the top five drivers in F1 and he’s not even here.”

Kubica would probably have won in Melbourne if Vettel hadn't hit him.

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I remember when this website was all fields.

By similar close margins it's determined that Heidfeld beat Webber, what we saw over 3 seasons was just how close it was between Kubica and Heidfeld and the 2009 season was the closest, the tie break season was as near enough a draw.

Australia would have given Kubica 4 more points than Heidfeld but the head to head tied at 6-6 and Heidfeld wins the qualifying 9-7.

When did Hamilton say that in terms of context?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

It was very hard to pass in F1 in 2009, maybe one reason they crashed in the first place?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

It would have been sometime recently. Reported by Will Buxton.

Well Hamilton also says every crowd is the best crowd ever, so.....

I thought it must have been, Hamilton can't really say that now given Kubica's situation, but top 5 back in 2010 that's believable, at that time back in 2010 I would put Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel as better, after that Kubica could throw his hat in the ring with anybody.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

No he's always rated Kubica going back to when they raced karts against one another in Italy then after that they were teammates in F3 at the Macau GP, likewise Kubica has always rated Hamilton.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

I would have rated him better than Vettel at the end of 2010, but otherwise I agree.

Massa claims to know who Williams has chosen for 2018 but he won't give out the name & doesn't care if the driver chosen is the best option as he's leaving F1:
http://www.planetf1.com/news/massa-knows-who-his-williams-successor-is/

This means behind closed doors, the decision has already been made. Kubica getting to test next week probably is the best hint yet that's gotten the seat. If it was Di Resta for example, wouldn't he been driving the car at the test?

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Feel The Fourth

That depends what parameter you use, Kubica made less mistakes but how do you measure ultimate performance between a driver who won the WDC and a driver that finished 8th and had a rookie teammate?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Have to agree, if it wasn't Kubica then why put him in the car at all? If it was Di Resta he would be in.
Its a great story for Williams if they do get Robert in the car, I'd imagine possibly a lot of media and even sponsor attention next year, I'm Scottish and I'd like to see PdR back in F1 but I think even a more "limited" Kubica has more raw talent and if he's fit he's going to blow Stroll away.

In all my years watching F1 (say 95-onwards) Kubica has to be in my top 5 in terms of speed and talent, lets hope he still has it.

They should be keeping Massa, bringing in Kubica, and sticking Stroll back where he belongs in the Driver's school. I can't remember a time when the driver that has consistently beaten his team-mate has been the one to leave, and it not to a better team, but retirement. William's have everything seriously back to front with this carry-on.

They might not be testing Di Resta because they already know what he's like as he's their test driver.

It's ironic really because the rest of his career Massa has been beaten by his team mate and kept his seat.

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I remember when this website was all fields.

Williams are more concerned with money up front and have been like this for a while really, despite Stroll's war chest Kubica has to bring money and even then they are selling FP1 seats to Sirotkin, I heard either 8 or 11, with Kubica having to sit out everytime.

In the wake of all this the $6M that Massa was being paid was always going to be a bit shaky.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Whoever Stroll's teammate is next year it will be impossible to evaluate his performance as Stroll is so inconsistent pace wise.

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Räikkönen - Vettel - Bottas
Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

rumour says very clearly kubica, and that is fantastic news and if he is consistently fast Williams will have backers throwing money at them and of course this will help strolls career massively

certainly on channel 4 that's their opinion with just insurance details to sort out as kubica got a end of career payout and has to pay that back

Yes I said this as well.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: 7th place
2019: Currently 34th

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Kubica completes 100 laps in testing.

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/ ... dhabi-test

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2016: 24th place
2017: 4th place
2018: 12th place

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Would love to see an overhead camera showing how he controls the steering wheel & various buttons on the wheel!

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Feel The Fourth

If anyone still had any doubts


https://gfycat.com/gifs/detail/mediumcorruptbats

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Kubica returning to F1 is uninspiring? Really?
Tell it to all the all the people he inspired to change their lives. Some are quitting smoking, others are losing weight, but most of all you should tell it to all handicapped who regained their self confidence... Yes, I know such people personally, and read from 10 times more of them.
6000 people send their pics to create a giant Kubica flag that was displayed at Yas Marina when he tested the Pirellis. Just to let him know they support him without even knowing if he'll drive for Williams or not. All saying he is an inspiration not to give up, to be a better person.. Etc.
What inspires you Dolomite, if all this is not enough?

You are confusing driving talent with inspiration. The very opening post specifically mentions that this is not a dig against Kubica or the others. It is all about the team and if they could have had better drivers on their seats. So not sure why you take such offense.

I dont think Im confusing talent with inspiration, and I certainly didnt take any offence the title says the options are uninspiring, Kubica is one of them, hence my post. Anyway, no problem for me if anybody finds his return uninspiring, Im just surprised.

I think you might be. The OP states the lineup is uninspiring. It's pretty clear he's talking from a driving perspective. I don't think Kubica's personal support is relevant in that context?

From a human perspective, it's inspiring for sure. But from a racing one, there are legitimate questions to be asked. I wrote in another thread how Schumacher struggled after a three year absence. And this is a man widely considered as at least a contender for G.O.A.T. It's a tall order for Kubica to surpass him on his return, especially given both his injury and length of time away from F1. There's a greater chance that he will disappoint that that he will excel, and this is not reflection on him, but the demands of the sport.

Yes, Zoue's post is what I tried to (unsuccessfully) convey!

Again, the OP specifically says that it is not a dig on the drivers and is talking about talent. I thought that Sarhan's response was quite strong, to a thread that is not intending to have a go at Kubica the man, rather examining Kubica the driver and how is he the best choice for a team.

So Williams might think of other benefits than Kubicas talent? Why not hire another pay driver then? Surely a quicker way to get benfits for the team than just being a part of kubicas returning story.
Anyway, if they hire him, time will tell if they were right.

True, they may be thinking of other benefits other than Kubica's driving. His talent was undeniable, but whether he can still cut it only time will tell.

I'd probably put Kubica and a younger talent next to him, although this bears the risk that both of them not performing.

Modification made to cockpit for making it comfortable for Kubica's arm motion around the steering wheel:


Source - www.motorsport.com


Source - www.motorsport.com

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Feel The Fourth

Kubica impressing the Williams garage with his car tuning ability, would be surprised if he is not involved at all with Williams next year.

http://www.speedweek.com/formel1/news/1 ... ortet.html

The Pole brought ideas to the table, which had never heard the technicians of the former pilots Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.

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If a driver(who has not driven in f1 for years) is bringing up ideas that the engineers have never heard of i would hire new engineers.

I'm just guessing here, but I assume it would be purely setup ideas to fix driving issues, not actual ways to improve the car. One of the few things the engineers still have to trust the driver on is car setup, since it's so dependent on feel.

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Judging by the inconsistency of williams in qualifying it still seems they need better engineers. How many times did they qualify bad and then ended up with better race pace. Something is missing. Merc had their engineers going 24 hrs a day to fix their setup problems maybe they could have saved money by hiring kubica.

Still no announcement huh? Looks to me like they are going to pass on Kubica. His latest comments that he is currently driving at 90% of his abilitity certainly couldn't have helped his chances. Williams should just put Wherlein in the car and call it a day, but I understand they care about the big bucks and want to make a splash...

Williams I feel are waiting for the medical tests of Kubica. All depends on this. If not Kubica, I wonder if they'll go for Wehrlein or Di Resta!

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Feel The Fourth