Williams are convinced Robert Kubica can do the job despite any limitations he still has as a result of the arm injury he sustained in 2011.
Kubica’s Formula 1 career appeared to be over when he suffered life-threatening injuries in a rally crash in early 2011.
However, eight years later he will line up on the 2019 Australian Grand Prix as a Williams race driver.
The Pole has been signed as Sergey Sirotkin’s replacement and will partner F2 champion George Russell.
It is a feel good story for Kubica, who a year ago lost out on the Williams drive as the team felt Sirotkin was the better option at the time.