F1 | Portuguese GP | Williams, Roberts : “Nothing has changed” but still no driver confirmation for 2021
The acting Williams Team Principal Simon Roberts claims to seek continuity but stopped short of confirming the drivers’ line-up for 2021.
At the beginning of the 2020 Formula 1 season Nicholas Latifi and George Russell were confident about remaining in Williams for 2021, as Claire Williams had been clear on that matter. Things have changed a lot since then. Claire is not in F1 anymore and Williams has a new, temporary team principal, Simon Roberts. He states that his plan is to follow the previous owners’ step and yet, he doesn’t want to confirm any of the two drivers for the next season.
We have to consider that Sergio Perez is now on the market and such a driver could be really appelling for Williams, who is said to let George Russell down to hire the Mexican.
Amid all the drama, encouraging to see our two drivers in P7 and P13 respectively 👌#PortugueseGP 🇵🇹 | #WeAreWilliams 💙 pic.twitter.com/mhQMHzhjrs
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) October 23, 2020
“There’s lot of speculation, there’s lots of good drivers around that are now looking for seats- Roberts stated - Dorilton bought the team, and nothing changed. I can’t say any more than that. I’m not going to say anything about either of our drivers. They’ve both done a great job. There’s so much speculation around.I don’t want to inadvertently fuel it. Someone will take some nuance of what I say, so we’re happy. Let’s watch the rest of the market. I’m just not going to talk about it. Dorilton bought the team, nothing changed with regards to the drivers. There’s just so much speculation and rumour, it’s crazy. It’s silly season after all. We’re not saying any more than that.”
After the big change made by Haas, everyone in the paddock is anxiously expecting some other bold moves, and they asked the Team Principal if it would be correct to expect them from Williams.
“Possibly, but we just don’t want to say anything, one way or another. We’re here focusing on a race weekend. We haven’t got any news. Gunther [Steiner] is here, he has got some news. We’ve got plenty on this morning. We’re running lots of parts in FP1 and we’ve got to get through all of that and get our drivers in the best possible place for Saturday and Sunday.”
However, the unsaid gets a great portion of attention more than what has been already said. Roberts hints that every decision on the following year’s line-up will be “made by the management committee and the board of Williams Formula 1” and states that “it’s a very normal situation”.
“We’ve nothing to say on that matter right now- he just said finally- That’s all I can say.”
As for what Sergio Perez had to say about the situation, he told Motorsport.com:
“As I’ve said before, I haven’t signed anything. So I think at the moment, there’s not a lot that I have to report or say.
“I think the season is coming to an end, so it’s getting close, and I should be in a position to say something pretty soon I think.
“Up to now, I don’t think there’s a lot of point in giving away anything, because I want to keep my negotiations private.
“I think we’ve got to be respectful of all the teams that we’re talking to. So there is no point to discuss anything at the moment.”
