Nico Hulkenberg out...

[stew-S160]

Just heard that the Hulk is out of Williams for next season.

Should be on the websites soon.

[jains15]

Oh that's a shame, hope he can get a good drive next year

[Stu R]

Yep, announced on twitter a short while ago.

Hope he gets a decent seat next year, huge talent.

[G0ldfysh]

who is taking his place?

[Teppic]

Confirmed at Autosport.com

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88301

[Steamer]

Ummm that is a surprise - I guess Barri is hanging on for another season with them though?

[IainT]

Would expect someone to pick him up - clearly a talent with potential to be at the very top.

[Matt_N]

Stu R said:

Yep, announced on twitter a short while ago.

Hope he gets a decent seat next year, huge talent.

There is no denying his past success but Ruben's scored double the points this year.

[Stu R]

I'm waiting to see what Webber does before throwing my hypothesis into the ring... which I suppose I've just done if he does shift / retire

[Fire99]

Stu R said:

I'm waiting to see what Webber does before throwing my hypothesis into the ring... which I suppose I've just done if he does shift / retire

I think Webber will still be at Redbull next year. It's the most competitive car he stands to drive so it's Redbull or nowt IMO.

[KaraK]

Nico underwhelmed me this year, so much promise on his way up and apart from the pole in Brazil (which was inspired) he just hasn't delivered. From the Autosport link is seems Williams were keen to keep him on and develop him with a year at HRT, seems he (or Weber anyway) felt he could do better - having looked at the "available" seats for next year I'm not sure that's going to work out!

[belleair302]

Williams will be needing a serious pay driver for 2011 as most of their 'sponsors' have ended their contracts. Nico does not carry any real money so expect Petrov to jump seats with over US $ 25 million in his pocket. The Williams commercial people are not going to sleep well over the next few months.

[Stu R]

Fire99 said:

Stu R said:

I'm waiting to see what Webber does before throwing my hypothesis into the ring... which I suppose I've just done if he does shift / retire

I think Webber will still be at Redbull next year. It's the most competitive car he stands to drive so it's Redbull or nowt IMO.

I really hope he does, and suspect he will still be there, but seeing how much the pressure of this year has taken out of him, and how unconvincing he sounded when he said he would still be there makes me wonder. I agree though, he's highly likely to stay if they're happy to keep him.

[jellison]

Shocking

[A911DOM]

Williams must have an eye on someone they consider a better option then - Or someone with a big wallet in their back pocket!?

[KaraK]

Bedazzled said:

Can't really blame him for not wanting to drive a HRT. He deserves better after getting that pole in Brazil, hope he gets a drive.

The HRT is supposedly going to be running and essentially Williams rear end next year so it probably wouldn't have been as bad a move as you'd think. The Brazil pole was something else but one cracking 15min session isn't enough IMO to warrant even a high-midfield drive at this point.

[Alfie Noakes]

Could be a straight swap.

Hulkenburg for Webber.

That would give Helmut two young Germans to "groom".

[Stu R]

KaraK said:

Bedazzled said:

Can't really blame him for not wanting to drive a HRT. He deserves better after getting that pole in Brazil, hope he gets a drive.

The HRT is supposedly going to be running and essentially Williams rear end next year so it probably wouldn't have been as bad a move as you'd think. The Brazil pole was something else but one cracking 15min session isn't enough IMO to warrant even a high-midfield drive at this point.

It'd still be widely seen as a demotion though, no? I wouldn't consider a useful way of furthering an F1 career - more likely a kiss of death. He's easily got the goods to get a spot elsewhere, so hopefully someone who doesn't need the sponsor's cash quite as badly will be willing to offer him a seat.

[hotmelt]

I think Webber will remain at RB, and Petrov at Renault

[Jungles]

A911DOM said:

Williams must have an eye on someone they consider a better option then - Or someone with a big wallet in their back pocket!?

Probably the latter.

IMHO, Mercedes should give Schumacher a golden handshake and put Hulkenberg next to Rosberg. Two Germans, two Nicos, two Bergs, two Silver Arrows.