Williams has confirmed that Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg will be its two drivers next season, as AUTOSPORT predicted.

The signing of the duo means the team will have an all-new pairing for 2010, as it also makes the switch from Toyota to Cosworth power.

Barrichello arrives at the team after a strong season for Brawn GP, where he fought team mate Jenson Button for the championship - taking two victories on the way.

AUTOSPORT revealed ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix that Barrichello was closing in on a deal to join Williams for 2010 - although a contract is only believed to have been finalised in the last few weeks.

Hulkenberg has been signed up on the back of an impressive season in GP2, where he took the championship in dominant fashion. The German has been Williams's test driver since 2008.

Williams believes that the mixture of experience and youth will provide the kind of combination it needs to make the push back to the front of the grid. The team is chasing its first victory in Formula 1 since the end of the 2004 season.

Team principal Frank Williams said: "Rubens needs no introduction. He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula 1, but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the drivers' championship this year.

"Nico Hulkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euro Series, A1 GP and Formula BMW Germany."

The future of Williams' 2009 drivers has yet to be confirmed. Nico Rosberg is understood to have signed a deal with Mercedes-Benz to race for Brawn GP next year - but this will not be announced until the German car manufacturer's future F1 plans have been settled.

Kazuki Nakajima has a troubled campaign with Williams, failing to score a single point all year, and he is not expected to find a berth elsewhere despite being part of Toyota's young driver programme.

 

The Williams team has confirmed that Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hülkenberg will bring a mix of experience and new talent to the outfit next year. It's all change at the Grove squad, which will also be reverting to Cosworth engines after making use of Toyota power for the last three seasons.

With Brazilian Barrichello making the switch from Champions Brawn and German test driver Hülkenberg jumping up from GP2 after claiming the title this season, Monday's news signals the first all-new Williams driver line-up for five years.

"Rubens needs no introduction," said team co-owner Sir Frank Williams. "He is not only the most experienced driver in Formula One, but a passionate and talented driver who fought hard for the Drivers' Championship this year.

"Nico Hülkenberg won the GP2 Championship this season as a rookie and has previously won the F3 Euroseries, Masters of Formula 3, A1GP and Formula BMW Germany."

Williams added that he wishes to thank current drivers Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima, who will remain contracted to the team until the end of 2009.

 

Where will Rosberg land?

 

I think these two drivers will work well together. Having a rookie and the most experienced driver on the grid should make for some interesting racing to say the least.

 

Rosberg will have the second seat at Brawn. Mercedes wants a German driver there as they add to their interest in Brawn.