ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -Williams will announce its 2010 Formula One driver lineup Monday, increasing the expectation that Rubens Barrichello will be lured from Brawn GP.
Team principal Frank Williams confirmed the near-term announcement hours after Barrichello spoke about the opportunity to join Williams, while stopping short of confirming his move.
``We will announce our drivers for next season on Monday,'' Williams said.
Barrichello was widely expected to be joined at Williams by 22-year-old Nico Hulkenberg, a German who currently drives in GP2.
Barrichello's likely departure means Brawn GP's concentration will be on re-signing world champion Jenson Button. Team principal Ross Brawn said Friday that he was confident a deal will be done but warned it will be weeks rather than days before an agreement was reached.
``We agreed that nothing would happen for a few weeks after the championship, so the next few weeks are going to be pretty busy,'' Brawn said. ``I am confident, I want to keep Jenson in the team.''
Nico Rosberg confirmed Thursday that this weekend's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be his last with Williams, and he was thought to be destined for one of the Mercedes-powered teams next year, either McLaren or Brawn.
``Nico is German and Mercedes needs at least one German driver to sit before their engine,'' Williams said.
The Williams team also confirmed it will use Cosworth engines next season, replacing Toyota power. Cosworth provided engines for Williams when it won its first championship in 1980.
The 2010 driver market was the main source of conversation around the Abu Dhabi paddock.
Kimi Raikkonen said he had narrowed down his F1 options for 2010 to his old team McLaren, while a switch to rallying or a year's sabbatical also remained options.
Toyota had been chasing Raikkonen, but the Finn said he never considered a move there as he ponders his future following his ousting from Ferrari to accommodate Fernando Alonso.
``Toyota has not even been discussed,'' Raikkonen told Finnish television station MTV3. ``If I want to drive (F1) cars, then McLaren is the only option.''
Toyota's driver options for next season were rapidly thinning out. Robert Kubica had also spurned the team's advances and moved to Renault. Timo Glock said Friday he was likely to leave the team and Jarno Trulli is also expected to depart.
Glock, who is sitting out this weekend's race due to a back injury, said Friday he is yet to sign a deal with a new team. There had been recent speculation linking Glock to Renault.
The German had a 2010 option with Toyota, but the team was yet to commit due to its pursuit of other drivers and uncertainty over next season's budget, pending a decision by the parent company.
``Toyota can't make a decision before Nov. 15, so that is the main reason why it doesn't look like I can drive for Toyota again,'' Glock said. ``There are various teams I have good contacts through, and where we are in a good position for next year.''
