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Williams F1 team has announced that Bruno Senna will be their second driver in the 2012 Formula 1 season. Pastor Maldonaldo had already been confirmed as their main driver. Finn Valtteri Bottas will take the role of test driver for Williams in 2012.
With many high profile candidates like Ruben Barrichello, Adrian Sutil, Nick Heidfeld, Vitaly Petrov and Jaime Alguersuari battling for the spot, Williams have sprung a surprise by recruiting young Brazilian Bruno Senna who will ironically be replacing his compatriot, Rubens Barrichello. Incidentally, Ayrton Senna – Bruno’s Uncle, last drove a Williams car which allegedly led to his demise at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
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Bruno Senna is not a new to Formula One racing. He drove for HRT during the 2010 F1 season and also for Renault during the later half of 2011. Though statistics aren’t in his favor, Bruno Senna is touted to be one of the finest young drivers of the current crop. Besides, Williams F1 team are in a precarious situation right now as they have been terribly under performing over the last few seasons.
A team which was once billed as the top dog, finished a lowly 9th in the 2011 constructor’s championships table – just above minnows Caterham(Lotus GP), Marussia Virgin and HRT. In fact, this was their worst performance in the history of Formula One. They have undergone a major revamp in the technical side too and have appointed a new technical director, chief aerodynamicist and chief engineer. By retaining Pastor Maldonaldo and dropping Rubens Barrichello, they have sent out a clear signal that they are going for youth rather than experience.
Rubens Barrichello loses out and it is highly unlikely that he will get the sole spot remaining in HRT alongside Pedro De La Rosa. It may well be curtains for his storied career. Let us wish him good luck in all his future endeavors.
Williams desperately need a change in their fortunes in 2012 and so does Senna, to salvage some pride. Will they manage to do so in 2012? Only time will tell.
