Williams line-up is 'an investment, not a gamble'

Williams technical officer Paddy Lowe has insisted that the new line-up of Lance Stroll and Sergey Sirotkin is more of an 'investment' rather than a 'gamble' as the team continues to receive criticism for allegedly choosing these two drivers for financial reasons rather than their talent.

With Felipe Massa retiring in the summer, Williams' recruitment drive quickly got started and for a while it looked like Robert Kubica would claim their second seat. The Pole was attempting to make his comeback from a career-threatening injury suffered in a rally accident a few years ago, but Sirotkin was eventually selected, with Kubica being awarded a reserve role.

Both Stroll and Sirotkin have significant financial backing in their Formula One careers, leading them being dubbed by some fans as 'pay drivers' but Lowe insisted that the latter was the best driver available to them during their recruitment.

"We chose him [Sirotkin] as the best driver available to us. We are sure that he will be very fast, consistent and calm in his work," Lowe told Russia's Sportbox.

With Stroll and Sirotkin behind the wheel, Williams have the youngest driving duo on the circuit, but Lowe sees this as an investment for the future rather than worrying about immediate success, or lack thereof.

"I would not compare it to gambling. We understand that there are some disadvantages, but at the same time we're making an investment. A young driver is an investment in a long-term future and a long-term success that can come to the driver and the team. We prefer to see a rising star in Sergey and hope to work with him for long-term and joint success," he added.