Williams does not want to trade Rosberg for Alonso

Williams ruled out any possibility of swapping Nico Rosberg and Fernando Alonso with McLaren Mercedes in 2008.

Rumors about the replacement of the Spaniard have multiplied this week following the official announcement of the split between the double world champion and McLaren.

But while Lewis Hamilton predicted on Saturday that the identity of his teammate might come from a trio of Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen, or Adrian Sutil, Williams co-owner Patrick Head remains adamant about his man’s presence within his team.

« Nico is under contract with the team for 2008 and we have an option for his services in 2009, » he stated to the press this Sunday.

« We plan to do the next season with Nico, and we are not in contact with McLaren for any exchange involving Nico. »

« McLaren is a team capable of offering very high salaries, but our goal is to focus on strengthening Williams, » added Head.

Some seasoned observers at Williams have suggested that the strategy is to stand firm on the issue of Rosberg’s salary. But it is true that McLaren wouldn’t necessarily benefit from taking Rosberg for an astronomical sum, especially since the team already has Hamilton in its ranks.

Sources close to Williams have also confirmed that the 22-year-old is making significant progress within the team. Evidence of this is his fourth place in the last race of the season in Brazil.

Martin Brundle, former Williams driver, stated on ITV – F1.com on Friday that he thought any exchange involving Rosberg is very unlikely.

« If Williams lets Rosberg go just for the money, many people will say that the team has lost all interest in favor of money. They are not going to do it. »

In Rosberg, they have absolute confidence, and I believe that Frank [Williams] thinks that if he sells Rosberg, he will have to eventually sell the team! concluded Brundle.

In the meantime, Williams continues to search for a driver to replace Alexander Wurz in 2008.

And while Heikki Kovalainen now seems unlikely, given that he has a contract with Renault and is on the shortlist to go to McLaren, Williams is looking for other solutions, such as Vitantonio Liuzzi, Adrian Sutil, or their test driver Kazuki Nakajima.