Williams to intensely evaluate 2019 driving line-up

Williams to intensely evaluate 2019 driving line-up

Martin Macdonald

Thursday 4 October 2018 17:53

Williams chief Claire Williams has revealed that the team plans to intensely evaluate potential candidates for their 2019 driver positions, with no places as of yet confirmed due to the uncertain future of current drivers, Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin, whose contracts both expire soon.

The British outfit are one of the only teams on the grid yet to confirm their performers for next season, but will likely already have been forced into action due to Force India's new owners.

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During the summer, Force India were taken over by businessman Lawrence Stroll, who is poised to poach his son Lance from Williams for a position within his new outfit.

Sirotkin's contract runs out before 2019, and Claire Williams has suggested they are analysing candidates carefully.

"We are going through an intensive evaluation process, we want to make good decisions going into 2019," Williams assured.

"We are not quite there yet. We have a number of drivers on our list but l don't want to say who they are. There are a lot of opportunities out there."

The major contenders for a seat are believed to be George Russell, Esteban Ocon, and current Williams reserve driver, Robert Kubica.