Rosberg ‘optimistic’ ahead of Kubica’s Williams F1 test

Nico Rosberg says he’s feeling positive about Robert Kubica’s chances of a Formula 1 comeback as he prepares for a private test with Williams in the fight for a 2018 race seat.

The Polish driver has seen the 2016 F1 world champion join as part of his management team in his bid to return to the sport for the first time since 2010 after a horrific rallying crash six years ago left him with only partial use of his right arm.

After enjoying three tests for Renault Kubica was passed over by the French manufacturer as it opted to take Carlos Sainz Jr on loan from Red Bull for 2018 but the Polish driver is now in talks with Williams for a race seat.

Williams is expected to give Kubica a private test at Silverstone in its 2014-specification F1 car before heading to the Hungaroring ring for a second test which will be run alongside a test day for Paul di Resta, with the Scottish driver also in contention for a 2018 racing return in F1.

Rosberg, who was a guest pundit on Sky Sports F1 for the Japanese Grand Prix, believes Williams is after the fastest driver available to partner Lance Stroll in 2018 and has faith in Kubica impressing the British team in the coming weeks.

"He [Kubica] is being evaluated amongst other drivers and I’m optimistic,” Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1. “It is about getting to know each other and if it fits well it will be absolutely awesome to see Kubica back on the grid and in F1.

“Williams want to take the fastest-possible driver out there and this guy is seriously impressive with unbelievable speed so that is why he is being evaluated."

Kubica and di Resta are in the hunt for a Williams race seat for 2018 alongside current driver Felipe Massa, who feels the tests in 2014-specification cars won’t be representative to the new F1 cars after the regulation changes.

“Williams knows 100 percent what I can give to the team and even if you do a test with a car that is four years before it is completely different,” Massa said in Japan. “You cannot evaluate too much, as well.”