Sirotkin doesn't feel added pressure from Kubica

Sergey Sirotkin says he does not feel under any added pressure from Williams Formula 1 reserve driver Robert Kubica, claiming the pair enjoy a "nice working relationship".

Sirotkin beat Kubica to a full-time Williams seat alongside Lance Stroll for 2018, leaving the Pole to take up a reserve role after narrowly missing out on a chance to return to F1 seven years after suffering life-changing injuries in a rally accident.

Kubica featured in pre-season testing in Barcelona, supporting both Sirotkin and Stroll. Kubica's fastest lap of testing was just four-tenths slower than Sirotkin's, but put him more than three-tenths clear of Stroll in the combined results.

Asked if he saw Kubica's presence as help or pressure, Sirotkin said: "I never felt it as pressure. There is a lot of pressure here, but it doesn’t matter from which driver.

"If I wasn’t ready I wouldn’t have expected it and I wouldn’t be here. First of all I have quite a good relationship with Robert, so there is no pressure or anything, just a nice working relationship.

"Of course he has great experience which we are all trying to share. To be honest I am quite happy with things between myself, Lance and Robert, how the relationship goes and how we are working together."

Ahead of his F1 debut in Australia later this month, Sirotkin said he was focusing on not trying to over-impress during the early stages of the season as he acclimatises to life in the series.

"I need to do the best I can do. I’m sure if I squeeze the best from myself, that’s exactly what I want to do," Sirotkin said.

"I know where my level is, I know where my limitation is, and I’m sure if I do my best, it’s exactly what the team needs and it’s exactly what I want - not to exaggerate, not to over-impress or jump over my head or to do something extraordinary.

"I need to do the job I need to do and I know how to do. I believe it's enough."