Robert Kubica: "I nearly started laughing because from inside it felt very bad"

Robert Kubica made his first Formula 1 start since 2010 in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, but he "nearly started laughing" because his Williams was handling so badly.

Williams again find themselves at the back of the grid having discovered a "fundamental" problem that will keep them there for a few months. And this problem nearly caused Kubica to laugh as he made his F1 return.

“Once I was in free air I was told the pace was not bad, actually it was good for the car with the state I was having. I nearly started laughing because from the inside it felt very bad," Kubica told RaceFans.

Kubica went on to admit he felt a bit rusty in the cockpit as he prepared to start the race.

“It was my first standing start after eight years and four months. I never did a standing start with the grid since Abu Dhabi 2010. And actually, it was quite good," he added. 

“But I had a bit of a panic because when I stopped, I couldn’t see the lights. The rear wing of the McLaren was hiding it. So I could see the first block but not the rest. And then I had to move to the left, there was additional lights, it was a bit of a panic moment.”