Barrichello Says His Future Depends on Williams

Like Nico Hulkenberg, Rubens Barrichello is not certain that he will continue his career in Formula One with Williams. And that's for obvious reasons, considering the fact that Frank Williams will likely choose money over value when deciding on his drivers lineup for 2011.

However, the F1 veteran says that he plans to continue the work he started at Grove, and this includes not only a one-year extension with the British team, but an arrangement for multiple years ahead.

“My future depends on Williams,”38-year-old Barrichello is quoted by Globo Esporte in Portuguese, hinting that if Frank Williams and Patrick Head will decide to oust him at the end of the 2010 campaign, he'll likely watch Formula One on TV next year. Most of the teams have already decided upon their 2011 lineups, the only outfits remaining looking for pay drivers rather than experienced ones.

“I want to stay and we are working on the car for next year, and after Abu Dhabi we will test with the new (Pirelli) tires.”

“My project with Williams was not for one year only. I've been talking about my contract for a long time. I cannot announce anything, because it is not signed. But I am working on the car for next year already. I don't see myself leaving,” he added, reminding everyone that he helped set up the car for next season, which features plenty of novelties due to the new technical requirements in the F1 rulebook.

In the meantime, GP2 graduate Pastor Maldonado, the man who was rumored to take the place of either Barrichello or Hulkenberg in the Williams lineup next year, was confirmed for the rookie testing session in Abu Dhabi later this year, at the wheel of a HRT F1.