The former Grand Prix winner Kubica came to Alfa Romeo after his racing comeback with Williams until 2019 as the new reserve and test driver for the 2020 season.
As part of the deal, Kubica’s supporter PKN Orlen has signed a multi-year contract as the team’s new co-title sponsor.
Kubica made five FP1 appearances in the Alfa Romeo C39 car by 2020 and balanced his tasks with a full-time campaign in the DTM with ART.
Alfa Romeo announced at the end of October that it would keep the racing drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi for 2021 and will now keep Kubica in his current role.
Asked by Autosport about plans for Kubica, Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur said he was keen to continue the relationship but wanted to give the Pole more time in the car.
“I hope so, but the season has certainly been difficult,” said Vasseur.
“[It was] mainly for Robert, because he had to do the DTM project and Formula 1 at the same time.
“At least it was a crazy season, a crazy six months. But we would like to have him a little more in the car, a little more in the simulator to develop our tools.
“He’s full with us, he’s doing a very good job and showed us last week [in Bahrain] that the pace is still there.
“I am very happy to keep Robert on the team for the next year.”
Kubica has yet to confirm his plans for 2021, but said in November that he was not sure whether he would stay in the DTM next year when switching to GT3-based regulations.
Alfa Romeo’s F1 plans for the 2020 season have been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions in Europe and shortened the DTM season to just over four months.
Kubica took a podium place in his DTM rookie season and came third in Zolder.
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https://formulaone.news/alfa-romeo/raikkonens-f1-epilogue-how-he-changed-and-where-he-stood-still
