Kubica: Effort of returning to F1 dimmed by frustrations

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Robert Kubica says the magnitude of his efforts to ensure his return to F1 has been overshadowed by his current performance difficulties with Williams.

Earlier this year, Kubica completed a sensational comeback to the sport he was forced to leave back in 2011 after a devastating rally crash cut short the Pole's career in F1.

Years of revalidation and hard work, and a series of on-track tests gradually put Kubica back in the saddle, a reserve role with Williams eventually leading to a full-time comeback in 2019, but one that has seen him consistently qualify and race at the back of the field.

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"I am not regretting what I decide," Kubica told Motorsport.com.

"Frustration is not a correct word, because in the end it is still better being here than sitting on the sofa and watching Formula 1 on the television.

"Definitely I would be more happy if I was fighting higher up and having less problems.

"But all in all, in these last months, unfortunately this difficult situation puts a lot of shadow on what I achieved and how big achievement it was for me to be back here.

"This is something which I also forget, because Formula 1 is a fast sport and everything happens very fast, so you somehow live day-by-day.

"You forget that in the end I achieved something which I was working on for many years."

Contrary to many, Kubica never considered his comeback as an end in itself, insisting his target is to race competitively in the thick of the field.

Alas, Williams' limitations this season have painfully curbed those ambitions.

"I even had people in Abu Dhabi [after he was confirmed in Williams' line-up for 2019] saying 'Well, congratulations, big job [done]'.

"Because the comeback was achieved. And I said 'well, the difficult [part] starts now'."

"In the past you had up and downs, but you knew that if you manage to sort few things you will be competitive," he said.

"Now we are so far behind, that even if the others they have downs or they have [difficulties], they have so big margin on us, that anyway we are not even in touch with them.

"This is something which probably is most annoying."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.