Williams Development Driver Robert Kubica admits he is wary of Formula 1 team bosses choosing the "safer option" when it comes to deciding their driver line-ups for the 2019 season.
Kubica joined the Grove-based outfit in a development role after he was overlooked for a race seat when Williams signed Sergey Sirotkin as Lance Stroll's team-mate, having previously tested for Renault through 2017.
Kubica has completed numerous outings in the FW41 in 2018, including pre-season testing, FP1 outings at the Spanish and Austrian Grands Prix, and the recent two-day tyre test at Silverstone.
Kubica remains adamant that he is chasing a 2019 Formula 1 race seat but is cautious over his chances, aware that he is likely to be a riskier option than any opponent.
He told Motorsport Week: "I'm looking first of all for the possibility to drive, for sure in the paddock I'm not in the easiest position because I've been a long time out of the sport.
"If you put yourself in a manager role or team principal role, to decide to put me in the car is not easy because I have some limitations and these people would often choose the safer option."
"But I think I still have some chances to get a drive for next year and this is my priority.
When questioned on whether he would consider competing in other series, Kubica replied: "I want to focus first on F1 and what F1 can offer me and follow it on from there."
Stepping back while race drivers continue to push each other
Williams currently fields one of the least experienced driver line-ups on the grid, with 19-year-old Stroll in his second season in Formula 1 and Sirotkin having stepped up for his rookie campaign, following a two-year spell as Renault's tester.
Kubica revealed that he is beginning to take more of a step back as the year wears on, with the race drivers gradually gaining more understanding of the recalcitrant FW41.
"My position is a bit dedicated I would say, but what is good is we have two young drivers who are pushing," he said.
"In such a tough situation it's very easy to give up and this isn't our case.
"Actually, this is a good attitude from them and they are racing each other, in this occasion when we are so far behind, it is good because it keeps up motivation, it keeps up the will of working hard and trying to improve things.
"From my point of view, you know once the season started, the driver with the engineer, they get to know the car better, so my role is stepping back a bit because, in the end, they have more experience than I do with this car.
"Maybe at the beginning of the year, I was involved a bit more in general with ideas on the balance and setup of the car but because in the end, they do so many races it means they do their own job."
Williams holds last position in the Constructors' Championship, 12 points adrift of Sauber, with Stroll scoring the team's sole top 10 finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
