Williams and Hulkenberg

My spy at Williams tells me that there is no plan to change the current two drivers, as both Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg have done decent jobs this year: Rubens bringing his enthusiasm and experience to the task, and Hulkenberg pushing him all the way, particularly in the second part of the season. It is a classic mix of experience and youth and there really is no need to change that as Hulkenberg should get stronger next season and Barrichello will have to dig deep to keep up. It is an interesting question as to whether the team needs money, but from what I hear there is a decent budget in place and there is no need to sell the second seat to a pay-driver such as Pastor Maldonado. The Venezuelan is, nonetheless, a good package if he really can bring zillions of dollars from the Venezuelan national oil company PDVSA. However, he has always been just a little too wild and his GP2 title came in his fourth year in the series, which means that he runs the risk of ending up like Giorgio Pantano.

If he really does have money, however, one can imagine him finding a seat somewhere in F1, as there are one or two teams at the back of the grid who would benefit from a quick driver with a pile os cash behind him.

When all is said and done, however, I see Hulkenberg staying where he is, unless he really has very bad management, as there is no obvious place for him to move up to. Renault would be insane to part with Petrov, given the enthusiasm that exists for F1 in Russia and the fact that there will be in a Russian GP in the years ahead.