F1: Five drivers battling for Williams’ remaining race seat

Williams F1 Team may have just emerged from a disastrous season, but their race seat alongside Pastor Maldonado is the most coveted in the paddock. With no more vacant positions in the top teams, losing parties in the annual musical chairs are all vying to drive for the Grove based squad. They would have loved to have Kimi Raikkonen, but…

Maldonado’s place in the team is secure – with Williams still looking for a title sponsor to replace telecommunications firm AT&T, his Venezuelan oil money backing is invaluable. Big money is harder to come by these days, anyway.

The mini contest to be his teammate is led by Force India reject Adrian Sutil, who faces competition from last season’s Toro Rosso drivers Jaime Alguersuari and Seb Buemi, although the latter is out of the reckoning – he has just been revealed as the test and reserve driver for champions Red Bull Racing. Also in the mix is Bruno Senna, who drove for Lotus Renault GP last season, and HRT man Tonio Liuzzi.

Pestering the team to retain his services is veteran Rubens Barrichello, who is hoping to race in his 20th Formula 1 season. The Brazilian argues that his experience and steady hand is good for the team. “It would be clever of the team to keep the drivers and keep on going. I’m not pushing them, I’m just trying to show them that is the way to do it,” he said.

Reports claim that Rubens’ case may be stronger now that Williams legend and co-founder Patrick Head has departed from the F1 team. Head is said to have grown weary of Barrichello’s criticism of the team’s direction.

Who do you think deserves the seat best?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Fri, 06 Jan 12 07:03:47 +0000.

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