Kubica: Williams team spirit high despite FW42 frustration

Robert Kubica says team spirit around Williams remains high, despite missing the majority of the first pre-season test due to a failure to build the FW42 on time. Kubica completed just 48 laps at the Circuit de Catalunya, clocking the slowest headline lap time.

After getting his hands on the car for the first time on Thursday morning – the final day of the opening test – Kubica said that only a handful of his laps had actually been significant.

As the team plays catch-up, Kubica makes no bones at the fact that their situation is far from ideal, but he says the atmosphere remains positive.

"I think it's good, in the situation it's good, but we have to remember that Australia is not far off," Kubica said.

"When you miss tests, it's OK. It shouldn't happen, but that's the reality.

"We have to make sure we get in the best possible shape for the first races which will not be easy, but we will see."

Sun’s out ??
Let’s get some more laps in ????#F1Testing pic.twitter.com/sH8VOTr2PV — ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) February 21, 2019

Williams best time of the test, set by George Russell was more than a second slower than any other team – a Racing Point outfit running much of its 2018 car in Barcelona.

Alfa Romeo – as Sauber – and Toro Rosso finished directly above Williams last year, but look to have made swift progress, suggesting last year's bottom team could be cut adrift in 2019, although Kubica refuses to concern himself with development made elsewhere.

"It looks like the field is very strong, which is normal looking at which technical direction a few people are going in, but we have to concentrate on ourselves.

"I said before this test that we have to target our realistic target and we have to target a smooth start to the season

"It didn't really happen, but we have to go forward and we have to make sure we have a smooth start to the season.

"I think the team needs positive days. Whatever performance will be, first we need to make sure we're doing our best, then we can concentrate on performance.

"We don't have to look much on others, we have to make sure we do our best."

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