Williams F1 has announced that it will run Venezuela’s Pastor Maldonado and Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman during the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi, on November 16 and 17. Maldonado won the GP2 title and is tipped to replace Nico Hulkenberg, while Stoneman gets a Williams run for winning the F2 title.
The team has confirmed that although he is being ignored at the test, Valtteri Bottas will remain as the team’s test driver in 2011. This effectively confirms the rumours that Maldonado will be a Williams driver in 2011, as there would be no point in running him if there was no intention of using him. Test days are precious nowadays.
joeblogsf1 
And so Williams enters the tailspin. Sadly I see them going the way of Tyrrell and Lotus
Got to feel a bit for Hulkenberg: wins GP2, obviously talented, chucked on the heap to make way for the next GP2 winner. Tough game.
Pragmatically I can see why, but I think it royally sucks. If Williams were decent they would stick by Nico Hulkenberg.
Well, that’s a darn shame. I remember watching Hulkenberg when he was just a kid winning A1Gp races and I knew he’d be in F1 someday. Thankyou Joe for bringing us the clearest picture of this news yet.
Wonder where Hulkenberg will go…
I’m not convinced by Berger’s supposed theory about Webber. I do feel sorry for Rosberg, he was doing well.
Webber out and Hulkenberg to Red Bull?
Hulkenberg for Lotus? Trulli hasn’t been confirmed for next year yet. Given what’s left of their respective careers you’d go with Hulkenberg over Trulli, no?
John Gibson,
Good call… but I think other shoes have yet to drop.
What a shame for Nico, Williams and F1
I hope the Hulk gets a seat at Force India if Sutil moves on or they decide to finally fire Liuzzi.