Kubica: Williams may have different priorities to mine

The turmoil began at Williams early this year when the team realised that their much-vaunted designer Dirk de Beer produced a dog of a car. What transpired since then is now history, but the most significant development is that Lance Stroll's father Lawrence and his consortium purchased Force India to provide the teenager with better equipment to prove he deserves to be in F1.

This means at some point Stroll junior will join the Silverstone outfit, some predicting it might happen before the end of the season if all parties can resolve a complex array of agreements. Should a deal be struck whereby the billionaire's son can move on to Force India, then Kubica is sure to be front of the line to replace young Stroll.

In an interview with Sokolim Okiem, Kubica played down expectations, "From my perspective, nothing changes much, but I think that the coming days or weeks are important. At the moment I have a contract in place."

"In the near future decisions will be made and only then will I know the direction to pursue. I may be wrong, but I think Williams may have different priorities to mine and I don't know why people only associate me to them."

Times are bleak for Williams, apart from their woeful season they are also facing the loss of Martini as title sponsor as well as the not insubstantial funding that the Strolls brought to the Grove outfit.

Their driver line-up for 2019 is hardly a priority, a decision may only be on their agenda in the new year, and most likely to go to the highest bidder with 33-year-old Kubica again the fall-back guy should the team not agree on a pay driver deal.

But Kubica insists he is seeking a decision sooner rather than later, "Having some experience and taking into account the free places, if there are any at all, I certainly can't wait until December. Today I am still [contractually] bound to Williams. We will see what happen."

With regards to stepping up to replace Stroll if he moves to Force India before the end of the season, Kubica said, "My situation is exactly the same as it was three months ago, three weeks ago, three days ago. If one of Williams' seats becomes available, I will be ready and that's it. Whether this happens does not depend on me."

The one-time grand prix winner knows exactly what awaits him should he get the call-up, "Jumping into the second part of the season, after not racing at this level for eight years, against experienced drivers, is not the same as starting from the start of the season when everyone has zero in the account."

"It won't be easy, but I'm positive and prepared. It's just that it is not worth thinking about such a situation because it does not exist right now."

Asked if he would consider options beyond F1, Kubica said, "Yes, I want to realise what will give me the most satisfaction. I want to find a goal that will be the most satisfying, not only for the near future, but also for the long term."