Kubica thwarted by updates falling off "fragile" Williams in Germany
Robert Kubica says his German Grand Prix Friday practice running was compromised by some parts of Williams's aerodynamic Formula 1 update package falling off a car that is "too fragile"
Kubica, who was the only Williams driver to trial the team's new package, said he lost the unspecified bodywork pieces on his installation lap.
He subsequently spent more than 15 minutes in the garage before returning to the track.
"We didn't have an easy day - [I was] compromised already on the installation lap," said Kubica, when asked by Autosport whether the new parts felt like a step forward.
"We'll have to revise everything and fix some parts in order that they stay attached to the car.
"It's the second weekend in a row that something is breaking down.
"When you leave the garage and already on the installation lap you are, let's say, compromised... It's very important for us to do our programme which we set up.
"Unfortunately we were influenced by this [issue] straight away, so it wasn't an easy day." He added: "We hope we can fix it.
"We were a bit too fragile, that's how it is, so we have to make sure everything will stay attached to the car, and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day."
Kubica said it was hard to give a verdict on whether the package had improved Williams's FW42.
"[The] conditions are completely different, the track is different, and the tyres are operating in different windows, so it's impossible to judge," he said.
"Of course I have a feeling, but if you ask me to compare Silverstone, which was 18C, with 38C and a completely different track [at Hockenheim], it's impossible to compare unless you have a magic ball."
When asked about the package, Russell said: "[I'm] definitely looking forward to putting a bit more performance on the car.
"I think you always look forward to that, but today it's very difficult to know exactly what the improvements were.
"We were on different run plans on different parts of the track due to different circumstances.
"So [it was] difficult to get a back-to-back, but the first times seemed relatively expected.
"I think it was very unrepresentative for the weekend. I think it's the same for everybody down the grid.
"We've learned some things, got a lot of evaluating to do tonight of the parts Robert tested."
Share Or Save This Story
Krack: Aston Martin F1 team no longer in “no-man’s land”
Gasly rues costly floor damage from Ocon contact in F1 Japanese GP
How an F1 underachiever became a Japanese political player
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
What would you like to ask Robert Kubica?
Kubica’s Ferrari Le Mans 24 Hours victory voted Autosport’s Moment of the Year
Sainz handed unprecedented penalty after F1 British GP
Why similar Williams and Aston Martin failures are oddly reassuring
Williams plans “almost entirely new car” by Azerbaijan GP
F1 could move away from customer power units in 2031
All level in British Hillclimb title fight after contrasting Harewood fortunes
The clever electrical trick that gives Mercedes an edge in qualifying
Healey horde entertains at Donington Park Equipe event
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments