Williams announced on Monday that they have dropped Nico Hulkenberg for the 2011 Formula One season.
Young German must look elsewhere despite promising rookie year
Williams announced on Monday that they have dropped Nico Hulkenberg for the 2011 Formula One season.
The 23-year-old German enjoyed a promising debut season, finishing 14th in the drivers' championship and also claiming pole position - Williams' first for six seasons - at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg's team-mate Rubens Barrichello has been retained for 2011 but Williams have still to name their second driver.
There has been consistent speculation during recent weeks that GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado, who tests for Williams this week, will be handed the seat.
"First, I would like to thank Nico for his hard work this year, and before that in preparing himself for Formula One," said team principal Sir Frank Williams, who last month hailed Hulkenberg as a future world champion.
"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."
Solid
Barrichello enjoyed a solid first season with Williams after switching from Brawn GP, where he challenged for the world title.
The 38-year-old Brazilian, whose next season in F1 will be his 19th, finished in the points 10 times this year to finish 10th overall.
"We recruited Rubens to Williams knowing that he would bring technical expertise, experience and passion," Williams explained.
"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."
Maldonado is also due to drive for newcomers Hispania Racing at this week's young driver test in Abu Dhabi.
Ironically, Hulkenberg is actually two years younger than the Venezuelan but Maldonado is backed by his country's state oil company PDVSA.
Williams are losing several major sponsors, including troubled bank RBS.
