Williams confirm 2010 F1 driver line-up

Formula One: Williams have confirmed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be their driver line-up for the 2010 Formula…

Formula One:Williams have confirmed Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be their driver line-up for the 2010 Formula One season.

The news has been widely anticipated for several weeks, with the duo replacing Nico Rosberg - set to take up Barrichello's seat at Brawn GP - and Kazuki Nakajima.

Barrichello is the most experienced driver in Formula One history, having made 284 starts, while Hulkenberg is a rising star, who this year won the GP2 Series championship.

Team principal Frank Williams said: "Rubens needs no introduction.

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"He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the championship this year.

"Nico won the GP2 championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Formula Master, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany."

Williams added: "Nico Rosberg and Kazuki remain our drivers until the end of 2009 and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution to the team.

"Nico and Kazuki have represented Williams and our partners with dedication, discipline and skill and we wish them every success with their future endeavours."

In extending a career that began in 1993 with Jordan, 37-year-old Barrichello is now poised to compete in more than 300 grands prix.

The Brazilian, who has 11 wins to his name, has since raced for Stewart, Ferrari, Honda and Brawn - finishing third in this year's drivers' championship behind Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.

Barrichello insisted on Thursday Williams are a team "anyone would look at", because they are "one of the best teams out there, and are on their way up."

Williams, though, could only finish seventh in the constructors' championship this year - Nakajima ending the season with the unenviable record of failing to score a point from the 17 races.

The team have not won a race since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix, yet Barrichello 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, who has been the team's test and reserve driver this year, is deserving of his chance - given his fine pedigree in other series.