ROBERT Kubica’s ability to finish an incident-strewn German Formula 1 Grand Prix paid off as Williams earned their first point of the season.

Post-race penalties led to the Pole being promoted from 12th to tenth at Hockenheim.

It saw Kubica, 34, score his first point since his return to the sport and end a 17-race barren run for the Grove-based team.

Upon the initial conclusion of the rain-affected grand prix, which saw seven cars fail to finish, Williams looked to have missed an opportunity to get off the mark in 2019.

George Russell, who was promoted to 11th from 13th, had found himself in eighth place at one point, but rued the team’s “conservative approach” as they chose not to gamble with the slick tyres.

But Kubica, speaking before the penalties to Alfa Romeo drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, was pleased to just see the chequered flag.

“It was a crazy race and track conditions were very slippery,” he said.

“I managed to bring the car home with no mistakes which is the most important thing.

“Although racing in wet and changeable conditions isn’t new for me, it’s been nine years since I last experienced it in a Formula 1 car and it certainly refreshed my memory.”

Haas left Hockenheim with ten points – their strongest showing of the season.

But, while it looks a positive result on paper for the Banbury-based outfit, team principal Guenther Steiner was less than impressed with another incident between drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

After the duo took each other out at the British Grand Prix, the Italian was stunned to see another coming together.

He told Formula 1’s website: “We are not very quick, so we don’t need any more distractions or loss of points by running into each other.

“It’s one of these stories where I’m baffled. We will regroup and go again.”

Enstone-based Renault finished with two retirements as an exhaust issue foiled Daniel Ricciardo, while Nico Hulkenberg crashed at a slippery last corner on lap 39.

The former was left watching on as the excitement ensued.

“It looked a lot of fun out there,” said Ricciardo.

“I would have loved to have been racing as there were opportunities for big points.”