Alfa Romeo slots in Kubica for Barcelona FP1

Alfa Romeo reserve Robert Kubica will take part on Friday in Barcelona in his first F1 practice session of the season when he takes over Guanyu Zhou's C42 in FP1.

The 37-year-old Polish driver sampled Alfa's 2022 car during pre-season testing and was also behind the wheel of the C42 more recently at Imola during a Pirelli tyre test.

Kubica's knowledge of the Hinwil squad's car should help him and his team make the most of the 60-minute work session.

Read also: Alfa-produced gearbox avoided team being 'killed' by cost cap

Kubica last raced in F1 in 2021 when he replaced a Covid-stricken Kimi Raikkonen at the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix where he finished respectively P15 and P14 onboard Alfa's uncompetitive C41.

Although he remains on call with Alfa Romeo in the event that Valtteri Bottas of Zhou are unable to race, Kubica's main commitment this season is with Italian LMP2 outfit Prema in the World Endurance Championship.

Driving alongside Louis Deletraz and Lorenzo Colombo, Kubica and his teammates finished tenth in their most recent outing in the WEC.

The Pole's next race with Prema will be the Le Mans 24 Hours, an event he almost won in 2021 in the LMP2 class with Belgian outfit WRT, with the team's leading Oreca 07 entry failing to complete the final lap of the race due to a throttle sensor problem.

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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.