Williams were so lamentably far from the pace of even the next-slowest team in 2019, that the performance of their drivers was hardly a major concern for them.

However there was a clear gulf between rookie George Russell , who joined them off the back of GP3 (now Formula 3) and Formula 2 championship triumphs, and Robert Kubica , returning to F1 after an eight-year absence due to the terrible injuries he sustained in his 2011 rally crash.

This was destined not to be a fairytale return for Kubica, and not just because the FW42 was too slow and the team too often hamstrung by a parts shortage. Russell has dominated his team mate in nearly every respect.

In Spain, the two drivers swapped chassis after Kubica complained his FW42 was not handling as well as his team mate’s. The rookie out-qualified him by 1.1 seconds.

This was one of the biggest margins between them in a year when Russell was never headed by his team mate on a Saturday. Russell’s average lead was a whopping 0.6 seconds. Yet the bigger concern to all involved is the fact fundamental aerodynamic flaws on the car means both drivers failed to make it out of Q1 all season – though Russell got close in Hungary.

On Sundays, their lack of pace did not improve and both drivers occasionally had the opportunity to beat an Alfa Romeo or a Haas, but even this occurrence was rare. The most chaotic race of the season at Hockenheim provided the only opportunity for Williams to score a point all season, and it took a helping hand from the stewards who disqualified both Alfa Romeos after the race.

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Frustratingly for Russell, the team ignored his suggestions to box during the penultimate Safety Car. He then ran wide on lap 51, which allowed Kubica to nip past and claim the final point. It was a rare shining moment in his season, but a fully merited reward for his experience.

The car’s deficiencies were such that the pair almost exclusively raced each other. Their wheel to wheel battle in Mexico, where Kubica came out on top, was one of the highlights of the race. They fought each other particularly hard at Paul Ricard, Russell incurring front wing damage as a result (a problem the team did not need given its parts shortage), and Kubica claiming one of his rare wins over his team mate.

Russell was usually the first one home, however, and sometimes by a staggering margin. In Austria he took the chequered flag a minute before Kubica, who fell so far behind Russell he ended the race as the next car ahead of him.

Kubica took it upon himself to announce in Singapore he would not return to Williams. The team will promote well-heeled F2 runner-up Nicolas Latifi in his place.

While Kubica undoubtedly would have been hoping for more from his return to Formula 1, his accomplishment in merely returning to the sport at all, given the legacy of his rally crash, is remarkable. Despite their plight, he and Russell had a friendly and productive relationship throughout the year. That, and the quality of the talent Williams has unearthed in Russell, were about the only bright spots of their 2019 campaign.

George Russell vs Robert Kubica: Key stats

George Russell vs Robert Kubica: Who finished ahead at each round

AUS BAH CHI AZE SPA MON CAN FRA AUS GRE GER HUN BEL ITA SIN RUS JAP MEX UNI BRA ABU George Russell Q R Robert Kubica Q R

George Russell vs Robert Kubica: Qualifying gap

Times based on the last qualifying round at each race weekend in which both drivers set a time. Negative indicates George Russell was faster, positive means Robert Kubica was faster

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2019 F1 season review