Barrichello and Hulkenberg sign up for Williams

The Williams Formula One team announced on Monday that their drivers for next year will be veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and German rookie Nico Hulkenberg.

The Oxford-based team struggled throughout the just-concluded season when Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima were the drivers and the former world champion outfit finished a lowly seventh in the constructors’championship.

“Team leader Frank Williams said: “Rubens needs no introduction. He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One, but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the drivers championship this year.”

“Nico Hulkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Formula Masters, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany.”

“Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima remain our drivers until the end of 2009 and I would like to thank them for their contribution to the team.”

The 37-year-old Barrichello, who finished third in the drivers’championship this season behind Brawn teammate Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, will go into his 17th F1 season with yet another new team.

The Brazilian started with Jordan in 1993 and since then he has also driven for Stewart, Ferrari, Honda and Brawn.

The Williams team are badly in need of a boost early in the new season having not won a race since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Barrichello, however, has claimed his motivation for carrying on racing is that he wants to win.

“I have a lot of passion for speed, for overtaking, for the things that pump me up, the challenge of winning,” said Barrichello.

“I want to go on and have a chance to keep on winning.”

Hulkenberg has been the team’s test and reserve driver this year.

Tags:Racing,F1 GrandPrix