The Williams F1 outfit looks to be eyeing a replacement for Rubens Barrichello, after both Kimi Raikkonen and Adrian Sutil were seen visiting the Grove HQ in early-September.
The team confirmed the visits took place, but refused to make any further comment.
A major management reshuffle is underway for the beginning of the 2012 season, a result of their worst ever start to a season since the team joined the sport in 1978.
Whilst the drivers might not be the biggest factor to their poor results, having bagged just five points, 24 less than eighth placed Toro Rosso, the team are keen on cutting costs.
Pastor Maldonado is seen as a safe bet for 2012, given his personal sponsor, PDVSA, brings with it many millions (upwards of £25m) in return for running the Venezuelan. Rubens Barrichello however doesn’t bring any substantial sponsorship and what he does, doesn’t cover his salary.
Kimi Raikkonen, who left F1 in 2009 after winning the title in 2007 with Ferrari, would be seen as a risky replacement, given he hasn’t raced in the top-tier of motorsport for almost two years. Nor would he want to pay Williams for the priviledge.
Adrian Sutil is seen as a more consistent and safe bet, given his many years of experience with Force India. The German has a personal sponsor in the form of Medion computers which would go some way in covering his salary. Nonetheless, his qualifying pace has been under the spotlight of recent, thanks to his teammate Paul di Resta.
If rumours are to be believed, Sutil may be pushed out of the Anglo-Indian team as they look to promote Nico Hulkenberg to a race seat alongside Di Resta, therefore Williams would be a good plan ‘B’.
Whatever the team decide, and whether the drivers or management are the issue, the future does look brighter with the appointment of former-McLaren designer, Mike Coughlan, alongside aerodynamicist Jason Somerville and chief operating engineer Mark Gillan. Next year will also see the return of the successful Williams-Renault partnership.
