London — Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin will race for Williams this season after being chosen ahead of Polish rival Robert Kubica in what the Formula One team says is a multiyear deal. Kubica, who had been hoping to return to the starting grid for the first time since a 2011 rally crash partly severed his right arm, was appointed reserve and development driver instead. Williams made the long-awaited announcements in separate statements, with 22-year-old Sirotkin filling the last remaining vacancy for the season that starts in Australia on March 25. The Russian will partner 19-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll, the billionaire’s son who made his debut with the former world champions in 2017, in a line-up that will be the youngest on track in 2018. Sirotkin replaces Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa, who retired at the end of 2017. "It took a huge amount of work to get where I am, and I’m really happy and thankful to everyone involved," said Sirotkin, who was previously on Renault’s books a...
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