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'Sirotkin offers 15 million dollar for Williams seat'

  • Published on 11 Dec 2017 09:47
  • 5
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Williams has denied that Formula 2 star Oliver Rowland is now a late contender to replace Felipe Massa for 2018. With Robert Kubica inching towards the race seat for next year, Rowland threw a spanner in the works by declaring at the weekend: "My team is in talks with Williams. British car, British driver, it fits well," he is quoted by The Independent newspaper.

But when asked if it is true that Rowland is really a contender to race for Williams next year, a team spokesman said: "That's not correct." Canadian newspaper La Journal de Montreal reports that if Kubica does have a genuine challenger for the 2018 role, it is Russian driver Sergey Sirotkin.

Citing sources, the report said 22-year-old Renault reserve Sirotkin promises about $15 million in sponsorship, "which Kubica is unable to match". Le Journal de Montreal said Sirotkin was seen at Williams' headquarters last Tuesday, with Kubica visiting Grove a day later.

"According to information, Williams could hire Kubica as well as Sirotkin as the third driver. If the Pole does not satisfy the team, the Russian could be called up to take over at any time." The report concluded: "Paul di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein and Daniil Kvyat had also been mentioned to replace Massa, but they are no longer in the picture." (GMM)

F1 News Sergey Sirotkin Oliver Rowland Robert Kubica Williams

Replies (5)

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  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    Bidding war with Stroll Sr.?

    • + 0
    • Dec 11 2017 - 15:55
    • Orchide

      Posts: 82

      Naah. They have probably payed twice that amount for that seat.

      • + 0
      • Dec 11 2017 - 16:23
    • calle.itw

      Posts: 8,527

      Obviously, since Stroll sr. is a sponsor and even part owner of Williams, but this isnt a quest in taking over Stroll's seat.

      • + 0
      • Dec 11 2017 - 18:49
  • s_ya

    Posts: 21

    All pay, except for leaders

    • + 0
    • Dec 11 2017 - 22:56
    • calle.itw

      Posts: 8,527

      There is basically just pay drivers on the grid, and thats pretty much always the way its been. There has always been someone holding their back, one way or another. Heck, not even having a paying backer might help you sometimes, look what happened with Wehrlein, and that was despite being Mercedes backed.

      • + 0
      • Dec 12 2017 - 16:46

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