World championship contender Rubens Barrichello will drive for Williams in 2010, according to reports.
And the popular Brazilian will pocket a bumper pay rise.
Barrichello goes into his home Grand Prix this weekend 14 points adrift of championship pacemaker Jenson Button.
He needs to win. But even if he does - and goes on to take the title in Abu Dhabi - he will wave farewell to the Brawn GP team.
Barrichello’s team-mate is expected to be new German sensation Nico Hulkenberg - the 22-year-old winner of this year’s GP2 feeder series and a Williams test driver.
It means a completely new line-up for the former world championship-winning squad. The Sun
Barrichello, who is on a reputed $US2 million ($A2.21 million) yearly salary, “has already signed a contract with Williams for the 2010 season with a mutual option to extend for another year”, the paper said.
Williams will pay him “some four times more” plus win bonuses, the report added.
Barrichello is duelling with British stablemate Jenson Button for the championship as the season enters its final stretch with just Brazil and Abu Dhabi to come. He has 71 points to Button’s 85. Sydney Morning Herald
