Kubica deal held up by paperwork - report

Cape Town - Although Williams refuted claims that they have signed Robert Kubica for next season, new reports suggest it is only the "paperwork" that is holding up the deal.

The Polish racer is believed to be Williams' preferred candidate to replace Felipe Massa next season.

This led to several reports claiming that Williams had signed a two-year deal with the former Renault driver.

Williams, though, denied this.

"Although conversations are ongoing with Kubica, it is still yet to be finally decided who will replace Massa," they said on Tuesday.

"We will make an announcement when we have something to announce but nothing is planned this weekend in Abu Dhabi."

However, according to Motorsport Magazine's Mark Hughes it is just a matter of sorting out the paperwork that is holding up the deal.

"Although the 2018 deal has still to be confirmed, our understanding is that he will, in fact, be racing for the team next year, pending the expected resolution of contract issues," Hughes reports.

"The delay is believed to be about the structure of his payments, and this is almost certainly linked to the fact that an insurance pay-out for the ending of his career will now have to be paid back."