Kubica hoping for F1 stay beyond 2019

New Williams driver Robert Kubica is hoping to stay beyond 2019 in the competition.

Kubica has been absent from F1 for eight full seasons following a rallying crash in 2011 - that left him with severe and permanent right arm injuries.

But the Pole has been called upon by Williams for the 2019 season - and on Tuesday, his team shipped a car to his homeland of Poland for an event, which is also Kubica's sponsor.

"This Polish combination is important," Kubica said during the event. "This is not just about entering this Formula One, but I hope that we will stay in it. That's the more difficult task."

With such a long absence from F1, Kubica was asked how he's feeling ahead of next season, and replied: "Like I'm debuting once again. The emotions are big, but of course different to 12 years ago when I debuted for BMW Sauber."

Williams have a brand new line-up in 2019, with Kubica's return and Mercedes reserve driver and F2 champion George Russell joining the English team.

Finishing rock-bottom in their worst ever season in the sport (2018) was a low point, but there seems to be a fresh new energy at the side.