29/10/2009
NEWS STORY
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, ahead of this weekend's Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg has admitted that he is to leave Williams at the end of the season, though he refused to give details of where he is heading in 2010.
Speaking to reporters, Rosberg said; "It is my last race for Williams so it's a bit strange", however, he refused to give any further insight as to his plans for the future.
The German, who made his F1 debut with the Grove outfit in 2006, has been linked with a number of teams, most notably McLaren and Brawn. However, with growing speculation that Mercedes is to buy into the Brackley team, which won the 2009 drivers' and constructors' titles at the first attempt, Rosberg, who has enjoyed one of his strongest seasons, seems likely to become a key feature of the growing German influence at the Northants based team.
Rosberg, who first tested for Williams in 2004, was keen to pay tribute to the Grove outfit. I've been with them for five years," he said. "They're the only team, I've worked with. Frank Williams, especially, Adam Parr, Sam Michael and Patrick Head have really supported my career over these years and I'd like to say a very big thank you to them.
"There's no reason why they can't be as good as next year," he continued. "But I'm not sure they can win races at the moment, and I would like to win races.
“It's been a good season because the team gave me a good car it was an opportunity to raise my share value and to find a winning car for next year."
It is widely expected that it will be all-change at Williams in 2010, with Rubens Barrichello joining the Grove outfit for his seventeenth season of F1 and 2009 GP2 Series champion Nico Hulkenberg being promoted from his role as test driver.
It is still unclear what engine Williams will use, however, there is mounting speculation that it will be Cosworth.