Robert Kubica has declared himself “back home” after commencing his reserve driver role at Alfa Romeo.
It was with the Swiss team, under their former guise as BMW Sauber, that the Pole debuted and won his only race in Formula 1 back in the late 2000s.
Kubica would eventually leave for Renault in 2010 but now, a decade later, he has returned after deciding not to continue at Williams following his remarkable comeback last season.
“When I started my Formula 1 career in 2006, I started in Hinwil so I am 14 years older – I am in a bit of a different role but it’s nice to see so many of the same faces, same people who actually made everything happen for me,” he told Formula1.com.
“A lot of things have changed because F1 has changed actually, quite a lot, and the team is developing but the DNA of the team is still the same. I’m finally back home and I hope we have a good year.
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“Regarding my position, my role at the team is, of course, a bit different, but actually in 2006, I started as a reserve driver, though at that time testing was practically every week so I had a bit more time, or much more time, in the car,” he revealed.
“As a reserve driver I will have a few duties, not racing, but it doesn’t mean I will be on holiday. I will attend probably most of the races or nearly all races as a reserve driver so in case, hopefully not, something happens to Kimi [Raikkonen] or Antonio [Giovinazzi], I will step up.
“[The] simulator is also quite a big topic in current Formula 1 times, where testing is limited.
“We have a new simulator, we try to develop it to make it work and hopefully it will give us a good tool to prepare for races and be beneficial.”
Kubica was given the honour of being the first to test the new Alfa Romeo C39 on Wednesday as testing began in Barcelona, completing a solid 59 laps during his half-day behind the wheel.
Elsewhere this year, the 35-year-old will also compete in the DTM with an ART Grand Prix BMW entry, but for 2021, Robert is ruling anything out.
“Everything is possible, but I am aware that I may not return to the grid in the future,” he accepted.
“Formula 1 is Formula 1: five or six years ago no one believed that I would be back, but I never closed the door and I did it.”