Kubica gives up final F1 test afternoon for Stroll

Williams has confirmed that Robert Kubica volunteered to give up his final scheduled afternoon of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona in order to give Lance Stroll more time behind the wheel of the FW41 car.

Development and reserve driver Kubica had been due to feature in the morning before handing over Sergey Sirotkin for the final afternoon of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, only for the team to confirm on Thursday night that Stroll would instead be completing more running.

Stroll had a difficult afternoon out on-track for Williams on Thursday as he struggled to get to grips with the softer tyres on low fuel, leading Kubica to step back from his planned duties.

"It was actually under Robert’s instigation," deputy team boss Claire Williams said. "He was due to run this morning but over the course of the seven days we’ve had here the race drivers over various different reasons whether it is the weather or directions we’ve taken it means they haven’t had the track time they needed in time for Australia.

"As everyone knows, Robert is an incredibly considerate racing driver and we are very lucky in that and he knows for the team’s benefit the race drivers need the maximum amount of mileage so it was his generous offer yesterday.

"It wasn’t the team. We didn’t ask him. We didn’t ask Lance and Lance didn’t ask him - it was Robert off his own back.

"Clearly we’re going to accept that as we need our race drivers to be in the best possible position they can be in for Australia so having them both in the car today will help us get to that point."

Stroll is due to return to the wheel of the Williams FW41 at some stage this afternoon following the conclusion of Sirotkin's running.