Alfa Romeo F1 is Officially Renamed as Robert Kubica Delivers First Statements After Joining Team

Around the turn of the new year, Alfa Romeo announced that they were partnering PKN Orlen. As an added bonus, Polish driver Robert Kubica was drafted in as a reserve driver for the team. Recently, the Polish veteran made his first public statement since his appointment as Alfa Romeo’s reserve driver for the 2020 season.

PKN Orlen, would become Alfa Romeo’s official co-title sponsor, with Kubica beiing roped in to work alongside Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.

The 35-year old made a full-time racing return in 2019 for the RoKit Williams F1 team, but endured a nightmare of a season. After parting ways, at the end of the year, he was left to search for other driving opportunities. Luckily, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters came knocking, and soon after that it was Alfa Romeo’s turn.

Speaking about his move to Alfa Romeo, Robert Kubica described it as a “comeback home”, as he debut with the team back when they were known as BMW Sauber in 2006

What did Robert Kubica say?

“Hi everyone, it’s Robert,” he said in a social media video. “I’m here in Hinwil, a kind of comeback home where I started my career in Formula 1 in 2006.”

The veteran confessed that he was glad to be back in familiar territory and reuniting with familiar faces from his BMW Sauber days. He informed his fans that he had just finished a seat fitting in the new 2020 car. In other words, he was excited to drive the car and work with the team that he knows so well.

It is also note-worthy that, in honour of the Alfa Romeo and PKN Orlen partnership, the team will be renamed, Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur told the media that the new partnership with PKN Orlen is a ‘proof of the ambition of our common project’. He also stated that the team are aiming to compete at the very top of Formula One.