Which drivers for Williams in 2018?

Besides the two seats at Sauber, which should be contested between Marcus Ericsson, Charles Leclerc, and Antonio Giovinazzi, there is one highly coveted seat still available: the second Williams seat.

Lance Stroll’s place is secure for a long time, as long as his father decides to invest in the British team. But to race by his side, the Canadian driver would like to have an experienced man who could provide him with valuable advice in his learning process.

Felipe Massa is still in the game! The retiree from the end of the 2016 season, who returned to service following Valtteri Bottas’ transfer, does not seem ready to hang up his helmet just yet. The Brazilian, who is having a very average season, has the quality of being compliant and playing the team game when asked.

But it would be offensive to reduce the role of the 2008 runner-up to that of a mere teammate. His valuable technical feedback and still-present speed are significant assets that could weigh heavily in the final decision. And these qualities still manage to charm, according to the person concerned: “I’m sure quite a few people on the team are on my side, especially the engineers, but ultimately, it’s not just talent and experience that decide. I’m quite relaxed. I know what I can offer, I’m totally motivated to do another year. If that’s the case, I’ll be all in. If not, I’ll do something else.”

If Felipe Massa is also looking elsewhere, it’s mainly because Williams is leaving itself options. Indeed, a test will be organized between the Japanese Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix, with a 2014 single-seater, to compare Robert Kubica and Paul di Resta.

It’s no longer a secret that the Pole wants to return to Formula 1, and his recent tests with the Renault team have proven to him that he has the ability to drive a Formula 1 car again. As the doors to the French team have closed for him in favor of Carlos Sainz, Kubica is now turning to Williams, the only credible option for a driver of his caliber, which might make a good move by hiring the former BMW-Sauber driver.

The sporting risk is, of course, high. Kubica has not driven a single-seater in an official competition for many years, and his adaptation to modern racing cars might take time. But from a media perspective, the return of the Krakow native to Formula 1, especially with Williams, would be a masterstroke for the Grove team.

To prepare for all eventualities, Williams will therefore pit the Pole against Paul di Resta. The Scotsman made a guest appearance with Williams this year, replacing Felipe Massa in Hungary. Having not raced in Formula 1 since the end of the 2013 season, the former Force India driver acquitted himself with honors. Di Resta has regained a taste for the premier discipline of motorsport, and Williams could thus reward his loyalty and dedication.

However, we should not forget the young Pascal Wehrlein, who had two impressive seasons with Manor and then Sauber, and whose future seems quite blocked at Sauber. Nurtured by Mercedes and Toto Wolff, the latter would like to find him a refuge at Williams, long-powered by the German manufacturer. However, it seems unlikely that the British team will field two drivers with so little experience.

Finally, the leads that point to Jolyon Palmer and Marcus Ericsson do not seem to be seriously considered by Williams. The financial contribution from these two drivers is not a priority for the team, which finds substantial financial support with the Stroll family.

A decision regarding the driver duo for 2018 should be made by the end of the season. In any case, Massa does not want to wait until December to know about his future and should anticipate his decision if Williams delays.