Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe has heaped praise on the relationship between the team and Robert Kubica ahead of his Formula 1 return.
The Pole has been with the British outfit for over a year now, having tested for a race seat at the end of 2017 but was given a reserve and development driver role instead.
When Sergey Sirotkin’s backers pulled out after last season, Kubica was finally given an opportunity for this season, admittedly for financial reasons but also because of the quality of the work he has done with Williams.
“It’s really been terrific to have him working with us already, and he’s a great team member,” Lowe claimed to RACER.
“Everybody loves Robert — in the office, in the garage… I remember when he first turned up the mechanics saying ‘Yeah, that’s a proper driver!’
“He’s just one of the old-school guys who knows how it works, and that brings a certain element to what we do.
“I think this will be a fantastic [driver] combination with the rookie George [Russell] on the other side,” the Briton concluded.
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Even so, there does remain uncertainty over just how competitive Kubica and Williams will be after 2018 was dogged by a flawed car design leaving the team bottom of the Constructors’ Championship.
“Where it will go with performance, I think even Robert would say we don’t know,” Lowe conceded.
“He’s very determined and a remarkable character to make this return. I think we all know why, and it’s admirable for that.
“We’re all looking forward to seeing how it turns out, but we don’t really know and that’s part of the interest and the excitement, particularly from the Polish!
“He hasn’t even been driving and they’ve been some of the most committed fans across in the grandstand with flags in the rain and everything, and he’s not even driving!
“Every race there are groups of Polish, I meet them all and they want autographs and everything.”