8:28 – Williams is staying silent over reports that Robert Kubica has dropped out of contention for its 2018 race seat, and that Sergey Sirotkin is now favourite to replace Felipe Massa as Lance Stroll’s team-mate.
Williams fielded both Kubica and Sirotkin during the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tyre test at the end of last month, as it continued to carefully assess its options for next season.
Kubica, 33, was making his third outing with Williams, as part of his push to return to Formula 1 after a serious rally accident, which left him with severe injuries to his right arm.