Hulkenberg out, Maldonado in for 2011 - report

Pastor Maldonado (VEN), Rapax Team - GP2 Championship 2010, Rd 17 & 18, Italy, Sunday Podium, 12.09.2010 Monza, Italy / Copyright: Charniaux / xpb

Pastor Maldonado has signed a deal to race alongside Rubens Barrichello at Williams in 2011.

That is the claim of Warm Up, the electronic version of Brazil's Grande Premio publication.

The report said Maldonado, the new GP2 champion, will replace Nico Hulkenberg.

The 25-year-old Venezuelan reportedly inked the contract in the second week of October in Caracas, in the presence of a top official of the Grove based team and Maldonado's sponsor PDVSA, the state-owned petroleum company.

The report said Williams essentially had no choice, amid the prospect of losing four main sponsors - RBS, Philips, AirAsia and McGregor - at the end of the current season.

PDVSA will reportedly pay EUR 15 million for Maldonado's seat.

Williams has been contacted for comment.

Source: GMM

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sideskraper

Boooooo. Hulkenberg is the most impressive rookie of this year. Give him another season or two and he'll be beating all comers. Williams are stupid if they do this.

October 20, 2010 6:55 pm

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Douglas6250

Oh dear..... losing RBS & long term partner Philips mean that their car won't be in that iconic blue livery anymore......shame ...

October 20, 2010 8:06 pm

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liquid stereo

Actually, forget about blue... it may mean they don't race through the season. Hulkenberg was largely unimpressive. I like the guy but...

October 21, 2010 4:51 am

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PAA

Hulkenberg came in F1 with more impressive background than Hamilton and now he is out. Some other team should use his skills. The guy deserves it.

October 21, 2010 12:27 am

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isaacu

F1 has at various times during its long and illustrious history 'introduced' a driver who can only be described as 'mesmeric'. Examples abound. Such a driver 'grips' the whole team and elevates its performance to an unseen level and you then have championships or said driver moving to a team that can 'deliver' championships. 'Team Williams' needs such a 'mesmerising' driver to take it back up...or it will find itself 'bumping along the bottom'... We cant afford that from Frank and Patrick. isaacu

October 21, 2010 6:34 am

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