FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[The Oz]

http://www.anf1blog.com/2010/11/hulkenb ... -for-2011/

Despite his sensational pole position at Brazil last week, it appears that Nico Hulkenberg will be replaced by GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado at Williams for the 2011 F1 season. The Cologne tabloid Express quoted Hulkenberg’s manager Willi Weber as saying: ”Nico is leaving Williams.”

However Weber added that ‘Hulk’ should be able to secure a drive for the 2011 season. Williams aren’t known to be the most wealthy of teams on the grid – hardly surprising then they are signing Maldonado who has a reported sponsorship fund of EUR 12 million.

“We may have to wait for a decision for another one or two weeks,” added the 2009 GP2 champion Hulkenberg, who has collected 22 points in his debut season thus far, and will start 15th in today’s Abu Dhabi season-ending race.

Maldonado will be driving for both Williams and Hispania at the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi later this month, on 16-17 November.

Personally, I feel that Nico Hulkenberg deserves a drive in 2011. I can understand the financial reasons behind Williams selecting Maldonado, but Hulkenberg has impressed me with his pace, and while pole at Interlagos was a lot to do with him selecting the right tyres at the right time, his pace has been pretty good overall.
---------
Hope he gets another drive! He deserves one

[Juliet P]

Boo.

[hounddub]

I'm not surprised...besides....they need to keep some experience in the team so Barrichello needed to stay.

In my opnion Hulkenberg has been a real disappointment this year...except for an opportunistic pole in Brazil he has not really shown "progressive" improvement thoughout the year, and continues to struggle to get on top of Rubens consistently.

Where will he end up?.... Mercedes test role I'd guess.... has to come into the picture to replace Schumi in 2012.

[Denthúl]

I'm going to wait for the official team announcement. I don't think they're silly enough to make a decision on Maldonado until he's at least driven the car. If they do let Hulk go, though, then that's the worst decision they've made in recent times. He is worth more than €12m in prize money, considering how his form has picked up in the latter half of this season.

Do remember that Willi Weber also said that Michael Schumacher wasn't going to come back to F1 in 2010...

[Robert12010]

well it would be a shame if hulkenburg is released by williams, but we will have to wait for an ''offical'' annoucement, because these tabloids are unrelieable at the best of times....

[hamilton08]

well it would be a shame if hulkenburg is released by williams, but we will have to wait for an ''offical'' annoucement, because these tabloids are unrelieable at the best of times....

I agree it would be a shame he showed what he could do in Brazil and if he is given a good car he could be really good in the future but if he does go maybe he will end up in Toro Rosso, Virgin, Lotus or HRT?

[madbrad]

One day, when it all eventually turns back toward the garagistes(as Red Bull's showing gives us a clue to), Williams will again have a free works engine that is the most powerful on the grid. Then they will once again pay top dollar for the best drivers.

[Big Azza]

He could be on for the second seat at Ferrari. Or Renault. Maybe HRT.... Maybe Lotus. Doubt he will be in a test role next year. Him and Heidfeld could be gunning for the same seat....

[vaptin]

He could be on for the second seat at Ferrari. Or Renault. Maybe HRT.... Maybe Lotus. Doubt he will be in a test role next year. Him and Heidfeld could be gunning for the same seat....

There is no open second seat at Ferrari

[7UpJordan]

Right, this is the first time in ages I have posted on here although I've been in the chatroom for Brazil and today's race.

Never believe a word Wili Weber says. He often spouts nothing but hot air, back in 2008 when Barbie was getting tetchy with Williams Weber was claiming Hulk would drive for the team in 2009 - that never happened (although he might have done a darn sight better than slow-coach-ajima), and he also claimed Schumacher wouldn't come out of retirement.

Hulk and Rubens are both doing the Pirelli tests on Friday and Saturday respectively. I think now Williams have sealed P6 in the constructors title, they will get a cool £4million more to spend on making the FW33 a quick car.

[Hansy]

Right, this is the first time in ages I have posted on here although I've been in the chatroom for Brazil and today's race.

Never believe a word Wili Weber says. He often spouts nothing but hot air, back in 2008 when Barbie was getting tetchy with Williams Weber was claiming Hulk would drive for the team in 2009 - that never happened (although he might have done a darn sight better than slow-coach-ajima), and he also claimed Schumacher wouldn't come out of retirement.

Hulk and Rubens are both doing the Pirelli tests on Friday and Saturday respectively. I think now Williams have sealed P6 in the constructors title, they will get a cool £4million more to spend on making the FW33 a quick car.

What about Maldonado's seat, isn't it confirmed?

[7UpJordan]

There is nothing confirmed at all about Maldonado despite the hot air coming out of the Venezuelean (spelling?) press.

The only thing that does sound correct though right now is that he will allegedly test for both HRT and Williams.

[Hammer278]

well it would be a shame if hulkenburg is released by williams, but we will have to wait for an ''offical'' annoucement, because these tabloids are unrelieable at the best of times....

Well here you go:

Hulkenberg loses Williams seat

Hulkenberg, who took his maiden pole in Brazil one week ago, has been in negotiations with the team for some time, but on Monday revealed he will be replaced in 2010.

"I heavily regret that," Hulkenberg said in a statement. "I would have been happy to stay with Williams. I want to thank the team for a great time and I wish Williams all the best for the future."

However, his manager Willi Weber is confident Hulkenberg will not be left on the sidelines in 2011.

"I am negotiating with other teams," Weber said. "Nico will have his seat in F1 in 2011."

Over the weekend Weber admitted that he suspects 2010 GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado, who has significant financial backing from the state-owned Venezuelan oil company PDVSA, has already been signed as a replacement.

"Nico will leave Williams," Weber told Express. "They're not negotiating any longer. They have probably already done a deal with Pastor Maldonado."

Team boss Frank Williams thanked Hulkenberg for his services after the team confirmed that Hulkenberg was leaving and Rubens Barrichello was staying in 2011.

"'First, I would like to thank Nico for his hard work this year, and before that in preparing himself for Formula One," Williams said. "We are very proud to have supported him as he secured the Formula 3 and GP2 titles and during his debut in Formula One. At Williams we have for many years tried to bring new talent into the sport, and we are convinced that Nico will go on to great things. We wish him well and hope that our paths will cross again in the future."

He added that Barrichello, who has scored the lion's share of the team's points this season, had lived up to expectations.

"We recruited Rubens to Williams knowing that he would bring technical expertise, experience and passion," Williams added. "He has delivered everything we could have hoped for this season and we are delighted to confirm that he will drive for us again in 2011."

______________________________________

To be fair, except for Brazil, he hasn't lit the track on fire. And Williams need cash to improve their car.

[Denthúl]

To be fair, except for Brazil, he hasn't lit the track on fire. And Williams need cash to improve their car.

He has improved massively in the second half of the season and become a rather consistent racer and qualifier, outpacing Rubens on a few occasions.

However, this has made me lose respect for the Williams team. Hulkenberg is by far a better driver that Maldonado and worth far more in prize money than Maldonado's sponsorship funds and would be a much better asset to them if they want to move back to the front. Stupid, stupid decision.

[kaizensuru]

his 15th place in qualy in abu dabhi didn't help I guess : P (I don't like the smily, no tongue and does not represent the real emoticon, hehehe)