Kubica quicker than Sirotkin and Stroll

Kubica quicker than Sirotkin and Stroll in Barcelona

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 27 February 2018 17:49

Robert Kubica's quest for a full-time return to Formula One may have been handed a boost at the first pre-season test in Barcelona. After two days at the Circuit de Catalunya, he stands above Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin as the quickest Williams driver.

Kubica came close to a race seat at Williams, having tested with Renault last year before turning attentions to the Grove-based team.

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He has not raced in F1 since suffering life-altering injuries in a rally crash in 2011.

Kubica got 48 laps under his belt on Tuesday, the freezing conditions on the track doing little to extinguish his enthusiasm.

Welcome back, Robert! ????#F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/mfApltNJN1 — Formula 1 (@F1) February 27, 2018

And there was tangible success, too, as his best time of one minute 21.495 seconds, seventh-fastest overall on day two, topped anything Sirotkin had managed in the morning.

The Russian's top time was four tenths of a second down on the reserve driver. Lance Stroll's best effort the previous day was a full second down on Kubica.

Sebastian Vettel was fastest of all on day two, clocking one minute and 19.673 seconds on soft tyres.

Valtteri Bottas came in three tenths behind, but on medium tyres, and completed 94 laps to the Ferrari's 98.

Stoffel Vandoorne put in 1:20.325 on hypersofts - the third-fastest time of a day that saw limited running amid freezing temperatures and snow in Barcelona.