Williams 'intensively evaluating' 2019 driver line-up
- Published on 04 Oct 2018 12:36
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- By: Harry Mattocks
Williams is one of the few teams yet to confirm their driver line-up for next season, with both drivers out of contract at the team. Lance Stroll is expected to be moving to Force India next season, after a consortium led by his father bought the team over the summer break.
This leaves one empty seat, but current driver Sergey Sirotkin who was widely expected to stay has not been confirmed, with the boss of SNP (his sponsor) saying that: "There is no agreement for next season, first we are still in this season."
Deputy team principal, Claire Williams has said that the team "have a number of drivers our list", with Esteban Ocon and George Russell rumoured to be contenders. It is unclear whether current reserve driver, Robert Kubica is on the list, but he has said that if he doesn't get a race seat for 2019, he will seriously consider switching to a different series.
Williams said: "We are going through an intensive evaluation process, we want to make good decisions going into 2019. We are not quite there yet. We have a number of drivers on our list but l don't want to say who they are. There are a lot of opportunities out there."
Russian driver Artem Markelov was also rumoured to be in contention, however his future is now less likely after his father was detained in Russia on charges of corruption.
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Replies (4)
Login to replytalktohenry
Posts: 362
Not alot of evaluation needed, it's more about the chequebook sadly for Williams.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
#tooreal
Although, one can only hope after this absolute embarrassment of this season, that they will consider attributes other than funding. But again, this is Williams, the worst managed team in F1.
samuelw
Posts: 21
wonder if massa is on the list ....
dont think its all cheque book. part of it is designing a car thet goes round corners with aero that works!
Kean
Posts: 692
It is impossible to guess who will get the seat. Looking just at performance one would think that Ocon and Russell are high on any team's list, but then this is a team in financial trouble. My guess is they'll sign the richest driver with a super license. Does Gelael qualify for F1? He's 15th in F2 but from what I know his dad's got deep pockets.