Williams bid to retain line-up
Monday 11th July 2011
Williams chairman Adam Parr has confirmed the team look set to retain Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado for next year.
A new deal for Barrichello will be his 20th season in Formula One overall - and would take him past his 40th birthday.
Maldonado has had a troubled year - with the Venezuelan rookie yet to score a point - although he at least enjoyed his best weekend of the year to date with the British Grand Prix.
Maldonado qualified a season-high seventh at Silverstone, his third top-10 start in the last five races, and came home 14th, albeit a place behind Barrichello who had started 15th.
Parr, though, feels Maldonando, who brings with him considerable sponsorship funds from Venezuela's biggest oil and gas company, is at least starting to prove himself.
"I always believed - and people derided us and me for saying it - but I think he's a very, very talented driver," said Parr.
"His GP2 record last season certainly earned him a place in Formula One. You could see the speed.
"What I think he's now began to show is a degree of consistency and maturity that perhaps people didn't expect as well.
"He's also a rookie, and lesson number one of my five years in Formula One is, don't sign a rookie for one year because you're just killing yourself."
As for Barrichello, who will be approaching 350 grands prix should he compete in all races this season and next, Parr added: "Rubens just keeps his head down, and in the races he is there. You need that.
"I think everyone has been really pleasantly surprised with him. We are thrilled."
Credit: ESPN STAR (www.espnstar.com)
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