Williams have confirmed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be their driver line-up for the 2010 Formula One season.
The news has been widely anticipated for several weeks, with the duo replacing Nico Rosberg - set to take up Barrichello’s seat at Brawn GP - and Kazuki Nakajima.
Barrichello is the most experienced driver in Formula One history, having made 284 starts, while Hulkenberg is a rising star, who this year won the GP2 Series championship. The Press Association
Frank Williams, Team Principal, said, “Rubens needs no introduction. He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One, but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the Drivers’ Championship this year. Nico Hulkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Formula Masters, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany.”
He continued, “Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima remain our drivers until the end of 2009 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution to the team. Nico and Kazuki have represented AT&T Williams and our partners with dedication, discipline and skill and we wish them every success with their future endeavours.”
Barrichello entered Formula 1 in 1993 - a year before his close friend and compatriot Ayrton Senna was killed after a crash in a Williams car at Imola - and will be the first race winner to drive for the team since Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya and Germany’s Ralf Schumacher in 2004.
Williams, who have not won anything since 2004, will be Barrichello’s sixth team after Jordan, Stewart, Ferrari, Honda and Brawn.
“I am very hopeful of having a very competitive car next year, so that is what I want from myself. I want to go on and keep on winning,” stated Barrichello.
Barrichello is Formula 1’s most experienced driver, with a record 285 races to his name and 11 victories. He is now on course to become the first driver to have started 300 grands prix. BBC Sport
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