Official: Bruno Senna will be with Williams in 2012
After months of discussions, the second Williams driver is now known, and it's Bruno Senna who will support Pastor Maldonado in 2012. This announcement also likely puts an end to Rubens Barrichello's F1 career.
It’s no surprise to anyone as the rumors have been circulating for many days, even weeks: Bruno Senna will indeed be a Williams driver in 2012. The team officially announced it this afternoon after publishing a photo of the driver wearing the colors of the English team on their website.
« Bruno started competing when he was 20 years old, but he quickly proved his talent in F3 and GP2. Bruno finished second in the championship after a tight GP2 season in 2008 with victories in Monaco and Silverstone. The circumstances in which he spent his last two seasons in Formula 1 did not give him the opportunity to show everything he is capable of. It was therefore essential to spend as much time as possible with him to understand and evaluate him as a driver. We did this on the track and in our simulator, and he proved to be fast, technically good, and most importantly, able to learn and apply quickly, » states Franck Williams in a team press release.
Dismissed by Lotus Renault, Bruno Senna finds himself a seat in a new legendary team for which his uncle Ayrton had driven in the past. “I feel privileged that Williams has chosen me as one of their drivers. The team has an important heritage, and I hope that I can write a good chapter in their history. The evaluation process was intense and meticulous, but the time I spent at the factory showed that the team possesses talented people and all the necessary resources to have a great season,” explains the new Williams driver.
« It will be very interesting to drive for a team for which my uncle also raced, especially because some people in the team worked with Ayrton. Hopefully, we can bring back some memories and create new ones. I also want to achieve good results in return for all the support I have received from my country to help me be here today. I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to show what I am capable of. I have never wanted to do anything else since I sat in a kart for the first time. »
The announcement of Bruno Senna’s appointment most likely puts an end to Rubens Barrichello’s career. The Brazilian, who holds the record for the most F1 starts, took to Twitter to congratulate his compatriot. « I will not be driving for Williams this year. I wish my friend Bruno Senna all the best. »
