Kubica in line for reserve role with Williams

Robert Kubica is set to be offered a reserve driver role with Williams after missing out on their second and final Formula One seat for the upcoming 2018 to Sergey Sirotkin, as he continues his attempt to make a comeback in the sport after a career-threatening injury.

Kubica's career looked to be over a few years ago when he lost part of his forearm in a rally accident, but after over a dozen surgeries he is on course for a dramatic comeback. Despite testing with Williams throughout the summer, he was not selected for the F1 seat alongside Lance Stroll.

Both Kubica and Sirotkin tested in October of last year, with the latter's lap times allegedly better, but there is speculation that the Russian was given the seat because of significant financial backing and sponsorship behind him.

French news outlet L'Equipe reports that Kubica will be offered a reserve driver role with Williams, however,

"The decision will be very quickly formalised," the sports daily reported on Friday.

"All is not lost for the winner of the 2008 Canadian GP. He [Kubica] will be offered a test driver role, probably with a few Friday morning test sessions at a number of Grands Prix."

One story that has emerged as to why Kubica was not selected by Williams is that the Pole struggled with the new Pirelli tyres fixed on the vehicles. Pirelli's director of motorsport has admitted that it is very difficult for a driver to adapt to new tyres when they have not driven for so long.

"It's obvious that if you take a driver who has not driven a single-seater for six or seven years, he discovers today a completely different F1," Mario Isola told RACER.

"All is different from seven years ago.

"It is impossible to expect a driver in this situation to be faster than a driver who has participated in many private trials driving the current generation of Formula 1 cars and has a very good knowledge of Pirelli tires."