Robert Kubica says he was left bemused at a “strange feeling” and asserted that decisions were taken without his knowledge prior to Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix action.
Kubica, who will leave Williams after 2019, was buoyed by his performance during Friday practice at Suzuka, but crashed out of qualifying as he began his hot lap on Sunday morning.
Williams mechanics repaired Kubica’s car in time for the race, turning the FW42 around in three hours, in which he finished 19th and last.
Kubica began his post-race media session by praising his mechanics for “doing an amazing job, not for the first time this year, as it’s really amazing what they are doing with what we have.
“I think in a difficult period we all try to do our best and it’s amazing how in such a difficult year they are still able to don’t give up, as we all try to do.”
Kubica went on, explaining, that “unfortunately I have mixed feelings about this weekend.
“We started this morning before getting into the car, so, after a disappointing Russia race there were. decisions taken before qualifying without even letting me know, and I think this is not the right way.”
When pressed on what those decisions were by Motorsport Week, Kubica simply replied: “Decisions.”
“Unfortunately [in qualifying] I did a mis-evaluation [and] I think it was lack of attention, enough attention, in exit of [the] last corner exiting the lap, but anyway… things were… a bit strange before getting me in the car, and I really didn’t like it.
“I was hoping after a disappointing Russia we would be here everyone to try and do our best and this is what we try and do on Friday, and actually Friday I end up with quite feelings but I think my feelings were probably too good.”
Kubica declined to provide further details but suggested that aspects were altered without his knowledge by those not present in Japan.
“Well conditions were different but [on] Friday something happened which gave me quite a lot of confidence and improved my feeling on the car,” he said.
“We agreed on something and then Sunday morning things they changed for whatever reason, I think it was not the decision of people who are here, so yep, I don’t want to go too much to the details.
“I think after Russia, where we were disappointing, and overall, when you have a driver who says for the first time I can drive for very long properly the car and actually I am exploring the car, this is what every team will look to have it, but for whatever reason…”
Motorsport Week understands that Kubica's angst was aimed at the situation regarding Williams' new front wing.
The new component, of which there was only one, was set to be trialled only on Friday, as part of Williams' work for the 2020 season.
Both Kubica and George Russell ran it during phases of FP1 before Kubica used it for the entirety of FP2, with the manner in which it assisted his progress leading to the decision that he would run it on Sunday.
However that decision was not carried through and Kubica was forced to revert to the older front wing.
