Hulkenberg in contention at Williams
Discussion
Williams technical director Sam Michael has confirmed that test driver Nico Hulkenberg is a contender for a race seat with the team next year.
Hulkenberg, who can clinch the GP2 title at Monza next week with a round to spare, has been the team's test and reserve driver for the past two years, and has been widely linked with a Williams race seat for 2010.
"Nico is someone that is on our list for a drive next year," said Michael. "But there are lots of drivers knocking on our door.
"It's a point of discussion internally at the moment and we need to come to a decision in the coming weeks or months. We have a long-term contract and we have to decide whether to engage that or not."
Hulkenberg has been used regularly in testing by Williams in the past two years after having his first run-out in December 2007 and is well-regarded by the team.
He is one of the few current F1 test drivers to have been given proper running in a 2009 car after completing three full days in pre-season testing.
"He's obviously very quick," said Michael. "He would be an F1 rookie, but it's not just about GP2. He's someone that we have tracked for a long time and that we have had a relationship with for a long time."
The team's current lead driver, Nico Rosberg, is out of contract at the end of the season and has held talks with McLaren, although Williams is still pushing to keep him.
Current second driver Kazuki Nakajima is expected to leave the team at the end of the season now that it has been given permission by Toyota to end the engine supply deal. However, Williams has not ruled out retaining the Japanese driver for 2010.
Is it only me thats a bit wary about these young guys jumping straight into an F1 seat? Alguseuri,Buemi and Grosjean have not exactly looked worthy of an F1 seat?? Sure Lewis and arguably Vettel look like the finished article but i am not sure if the teams should be taking such risks, Surely Kubica,Heidfield or Glock,Trulli should be first options
Hulkenberg, who can clinch the GP2 title at Monza next week with a round to spare, has been the team's test and reserve driver for the past two years, and has been widely linked with a Williams race seat for 2010.
"Nico is someone that is on our list for a drive next year," said Michael. "But there are lots of drivers knocking on our door.
"It's a point of discussion internally at the moment and we need to come to a decision in the coming weeks or months. We have a long-term contract and we have to decide whether to engage that or not."
Hulkenberg has been used regularly in testing by Williams in the past two years after having his first run-out in December 2007 and is well-regarded by the team.
He is one of the few current F1 test drivers to have been given proper running in a 2009 car after completing three full days in pre-season testing.
"He's obviously very quick," said Michael. "He would be an F1 rookie, but it's not just about GP2. He's someone that we have tracked for a long time and that we have had a relationship with for a long time."
The team's current lead driver, Nico Rosberg, is out of contract at the end of the season and has held talks with McLaren, although Williams is still pushing to keep him.
Current second driver Kazuki Nakajima is expected to leave the team at the end of the season now that it has been given permission by Toyota to end the engine supply deal. However, Williams has not ruled out retaining the Japanese driver for 2010.
Is it only me thats a bit wary about these young guys jumping straight into an F1 seat? Alguseuri,Buemi and Grosjean have not exactly looked worthy of an F1 seat?? Sure Lewis and arguably Vettel look like the finished article but i am not sure if the teams should be taking such risks, Surely Kubica,Heidfield or Glock,Trulli should be first options
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Thursday 3rd September 09:21
Wanta996Gotta said:
Williams technical director Sam Michael has confirmed that test driver Nico Hulkenberg is a contender for a race seat with the team next year.
Hulkenberg, who can clinch the GP2 title at Monza next week with a round to spare, has been the team's test and reserve driver for the past two years, and has been widely linked with a Williams race seat for 2010.
"Nico is someone that is on our list for a drive next year," said Michael. "But there are lots of drivers knocking on our door.
"It's a point of discussion internally at the moment and we need to come to a decision in the coming weeks or months. We have a long-term contract and we have to decide whether to engage that or not."
Hulkenberg has been used regularly in testing by Williams in the past two years after having his first run-out in December 2007 and is well-regarded by the team.
He is one of the few current F1 test drivers to have been given proper running in a 2009 car after completing three full days in pre-season testing.
"He's obviously very quick," said Michael. "He would be an F1 rookie, but it's not just about GP2. He's someone that we have tracked for a long time and that we have had a relationship with for a long time."
The team's current lead driver, Nico Rosberg, is out of contract at the end of the season and has held talks with McLaren, although Williams is still pushing to keep him.
Current second driver Kazuki Nakajima is expected to leave the team at the end of the season now that it has been given permission by Toyota to end the engine supply deal. However, Williams has not ruled out retaining the Japanese driver for 2010.
Is it only me thats a bit wary about these young guys jumping straight into an F1 seat? Alguseuri,Buemi and Grosjean have not exactly looked worthy of an F1 seat?? Sure Lewis and arguably Vettel look like the finished article but i am not sure if the teams should be taking such risks, Surely Kubica,Heidfield or Glock,Trulli should be first options
+1 Hulkenberg looks like a quick driver, but he aint ready for F1 yetHulkenberg, who can clinch the GP2 title at Monza next week with a round to spare, has been the team's test and reserve driver for the past two years, and has been widely linked with a Williams race seat for 2010.
"Nico is someone that is on our list for a drive next year," said Michael. "But there are lots of drivers knocking on our door.
"It's a point of discussion internally at the moment and we need to come to a decision in the coming weeks or months. We have a long-term contract and we have to decide whether to engage that or not."
Hulkenberg has been used regularly in testing by Williams in the past two years after having his first run-out in December 2007 and is well-regarded by the team.
He is one of the few current F1 test drivers to have been given proper running in a 2009 car after completing three full days in pre-season testing.
"He's obviously very quick," said Michael. "He would be an F1 rookie, but it's not just about GP2. He's someone that we have tracked for a long time and that we have had a relationship with for a long time."
The team's current lead driver, Nico Rosberg, is out of contract at the end of the season and has held talks with McLaren, although Williams is still pushing to keep him.
Current second driver Kazuki Nakajima is expected to leave the team at the end of the season now that it has been given permission by Toyota to end the engine supply deal. However, Williams has not ruled out retaining the Japanese driver for 2010.
Is it only me thats a bit wary about these young guys jumping straight into an F1 seat? Alguseuri,Buemi and Grosjean have not exactly looked worthy of an F1 seat?? Sure Lewis and arguably Vettel look like the finished article but i am not sure if the teams should be taking such risks, Surely Kubica,Heidfield or Glock,Trulli should be first options
Edited by Wanta996Gotta on Thursday 3rd September 09:21
Out of all the rookies coming up in the last few years, Hulkenburg has impressed me the most. Far more than Buemi, Grosjean, Piquet and dare I say it Bruno Senna. He has been consistently good in everything that he has done. I seem to remember a PHer who might or might not be a race engineer at Williams rating him very highly earlier this year.
It's chicken and egg.
The drivers need to DRIVE in F1 in order to learn the job. But giving them those drives involve huge amounts of undesirable risk. The rewards can be pitifully bad (eg. Nelsinho Piquet, Kazuki Nakajima) or extremely profitable (eg. Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel). The business of running an F1 team takes as much balls as driving an F1 car, IMHO.
As for Hulkenberg, all the things I've read about him are positive. Quick in the lower series, reportedly very keen on engineering, shows lots of potential. Williams could score big.
The drivers need to DRIVE in F1 in order to learn the job. But giving them those drives involve huge amounts of undesirable risk. The rewards can be pitifully bad (eg. Nelsinho Piquet, Kazuki Nakajima) or extremely profitable (eg. Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel). The business of running an F1 team takes as much balls as driving an F1 car, IMHO.
As for Hulkenberg, all the things I've read about him are positive. Quick in the lower series, reportedly very keen on engineering, shows lots of potential. Williams could score big.
Edited by Jungles on Thursday 3rd September 13:13
I met Frank Williams yesterday and his words were that they were looking to "freshen up" their driver line up for 2010 and hope to be a lot more competitive. Nico is currently spending time working in different departments within the factory to get to know the development of the car inside out.
Jarrod said:
I met Frank Williams yesterday and his words were that they were looking to "freshen up" their driver line up for 2010 and hope to be a lot more competitive. Nico is currently spending time working in different departments within the factory to get to know the development of the car inside out.
rosberg? he is a very sharp cookie i reckon, definitely one of the more intelligent drivers.Jarrod said:
I met Frank Williams yesterday and his words were that they were looking to "freshen up" their driver line up for 2010 and hope to be a lot more competitive. Nico is currently spending time working in different departments within the factory to get to know the development of the car inside out.
I saw this somewhere the other day, that as there was no testing he was spending a lot of time in the factory. On topic with 'The Hulk' though. He has been very impressive in the lower formulas, he has got a very impressive lead in the GP2 championship currently. But then again the GP2 grid doesn't look as competitive as the past few years IMHO. I think he'll make a pretty decent job at Williams, give him two races and i reckon he will out pace Nakajima. I can't see him going down the same route as the previous GP2 champion and race Meganes, he's definately a skilled driver on the rise.
skinny said:
Jarrod said:
I met Frank Williams yesterday and his words were that they were looking to "freshen up" their driver line up for 2010 and hope to be a lot more competitive. Nico is currently spending time working in different departments within the factory to get to know the development of the car inside out.
rosberg? he is a very sharp cookie i reckon, definitely one of the more intelligent drivers.So Williams will have two German drivers? Am I the only one who finds it slightly amusing that such an iconic British racing team will field only German drivers?
Edited by Jungles on Friday 4th September 01:12
stifler said:
Jungles said:
So Williams will have two German drivers? Am I the only one who finds it slightly amusing that such an iconic British racing team will field only German drivers?
Or a german and A.N Other 
MiniMan64 said:
stifler said:
Jungles said:
So Williams will have two German drivers? Am I the only one who finds it slightly amusing that such an iconic British racing team will field only German drivers?
Or a german and A.N Other In that situation I would still expect to see two German drivers in the team, one new and one very experienced ex-Williams driver returning to the team.
Only seen Hulkenburg in F3 Euroseries, but from watching on the TV and reading reports, he monstered A1GP and GP2. Can't see why he isn't ready for F1, he's no less experienced than Rosberg when he came into the sport and he managed fastest lap in his first race. It's only the limited testing which will count against him.
from that list, looks like renault then. BMW will not be making any more engines.
tbh tho, i think they'll stay with toyota - they have a contract for next year, and the clause as i understand it is that they can only get out of it if someone offers them engines for free, which won't happen. williams are keen to use KERS next year tho and the toyota engine can't accomodate it, which is the reason for this kerfuffle. although nakajaffa hasn't scored this year, i don't think he's too bad for a freebie.
tbh tho, i think they'll stay with toyota - they have a contract for next year, and the clause as i understand it is that they can only get out of it if someone offers them engines for free, which won't happen. williams are keen to use KERS next year tho and the toyota engine can't accomodate it, which is the reason for this kerfuffle. although nakajaffa hasn't scored this year, i don't think he's too bad for a freebie.
Edited by skinny on Friday 4th September 16:55
chevronb37 said:
Only seen Hulkenburg in F3 Euroseries, but from watching on the TV and reading reports, he monstered A1GP and GP2. Can't see why he isn't ready for F1, he's no less experienced than Rosberg when he came into the sport and he managed fastest lap in his first race. It's only the limited testing which will count against him.
Hulkenberg monstered A1GP but then took quite a while to settle in F3 Euroseries. It wasn't until the end of his first season that he started to look dominant, then took the title in his second.It took until mid season before taking the championship lead in GP2 but now looks unstoppable. Interestingly, the only other driver to take Pole and win both races with fastest lap in both in GP2 is Nelson Piquet Jr.
Edited by AlexS on Friday 4th September 17:34
skinny said:
Jarrod said:
I met Frank Williams yesterday and his words were that they were looking to "freshen up" their driver line up for 2010 and hope to be a lot more competitive. Nico is currently spending time working in different departments within the factory to get to know the development of the car inside out.
rosberg? he is a very sharp cookie i reckon, definitely one of the more intelligent drivers.Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff