Oliver WhiteWilliams today have announced their 2010 driver line-up, the team unsurprisingly opting for current test driver Nico Hulkenberg and Brawn refugee Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian driver finished the 2009 season in third while team mate Jenson Button took the championship, and Nico Hulkenberg took his first GP2 title.
The announcement comes after Williams decided to end their partnership with Toyota and instead go with Cosworth engines for next year. This means that the team are no longer pressured into having a Japanese driver in their line-up.
The news that Barrichello has found employment after an up-and-down year with Brawn means the Brazilian race winner will again extend his record of most races contested. The partnership with rookie Hulkenberg should also prove to be interesting, Nico having taken the GP2 title in dominant fashion.
While the pairing appears strong, much of next year will come down to how well Williams can develop their car over the winter. In 2009, the FW31 showed flashes of brilliance in the hands of Nico Rosberg, but all too often the performance faded in the race. With the unknown Cosworth engine, Williams could be on the verge of a great comeback, or another season of mid-field anonymity.
Nico Rosberg is highly expected to be announced as a Brawn driver in the coming days/weeks, although the team are likely to be wanting to announce both drivers together, the negotiations with Button apparently taking a little longer than perhaps they would like. As for Kazuki Nakajima, the Japanese driver had a woeful 2009 campaign which saw no points. Although Nakajima has at times shown real promise in the Williams, there are plenty of other hopefuls desperate to prove themselves in Formula One.
This post was written on a PS3, and therefore kinda tricky (even with the keyboard hooked up). My apologies in advance if it isn’t up to the usual standard. I’ll be back online (properly) at the weekend, I hope.
[…] suppliers are taking the opportunity to make announcements regarding their futures. Earlier today Williams stated that their driver line-up will change for next season (favouring Barrichello and Hulkenberg) and Brawn are expected to reveal […]
I am impressed with the changes for Williams next season.
First off a seasoned team leader who has come close to becoming champion several times. Barrichello will effectively lead from experience, knowledge and best of all passion. I respect his long time commitment to the sport and admire him as a man.
Young Mr. Hulkenberg canonly benefit from the mentoring that he will get not only from Rubens but also Sir Frank and Mr. Head. I think that Hulkenberg will only benefit from having such a strong base in his rookie season.
Cosworth engines in a new chassis seems as if it will be promising and time will tell if they have it right.
All in all I look at them as next seasons “Red Bull” surprise.