The Williams team has announced today that Pastor Maldonado will be partnered by Valtteri Bottas in 2013. It has long been speculated that Bottas would replace Bruno Senna, and today’s announcement confirms that Senna is without a drive for next season.
Bottas has been the Williams team’s test driver since 2010, and in 2012 participated in 15 Friday practice sessions as part of his development. The 23 year old Finnish driver has been successful in Formula Renault, Formula 3 and GP3 on his path to Formula One, winning the GP3 title at his first attempt in 2011. In 2012, Bottas focused solely on his role as Williams test driver, and after impressing the team during Friday practice has been promoted to a full-time race seat from 2013.
Bruno Senna is now without a drive for 2013. His Formula One career has been unsettled, with stints at three different teams – HRT, Renault (now Lotus) and Williams. Unfortunately for the nephew of Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna, he has been comfortably out-driven by team-mate Maldonado in 2012, which has surely contributed to his exit from Williams.
Senna’s options for remaining in Formula One are dwindling as teams continue to announce their driver line-ups. Seats are still available at Lotus (where Romain Grosjean is expected to be retained), Force India, Caterham, Marussia and HRT, although HRT are currently not expected to make the 2013 grid. Senna does have the advantage of bringing sponsorship to his team, which will make him an attractive option for the teams with smaller budgets. Speculation has linked him with a possible move to Caterham, although nothing has yet been confirmed.
Williams have retained Pastor Maldonado for a third season. The Venezuelan had a very mixed 2012, with a dominant win in Spain and the unfortunate record of being the season’s most penalised driver. While he has been accused of driving recklessly, there is no doubting Maldonado’s speed, and if he can tame his aggression he could turn into a very successful driver.
Bottas and Maldonado will be on track as team-mates for the first time when pre-season testing begins on 5 February 2013.
Chris on F1 
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