Williams acting Formula 1 team principal Simon Roberts has refused to confirm whether George Russ🍌ell and Nicholas Latifi will continue to drive f༺or the team in 2021. 

An announcement ♉in July confirmed that Russell and Latifi would remain with the team for the 2021 season but the British squad has since bౠeen bought by Dorilton Capital.

Current free agent Sergio Perez has since ꧙emerged as a surprise candidate for Williams, p🌺otentially taking the place of Russell within the team for next year.

Roberts stressed that “nothing has chang💦ed” since Dorilton’s takeover when he addressed the media on Friday ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix, but he failed to confirm the team’s driver plans for 2021 when he faced a series of questions on the matter.

“There’s lots of speculation, there’s lots of good drivers around looking for seats. Doriꦚlton bought the team and nothing’s changed,” Roberts said. “So I can’t say anymore than that.

Asked if he would confirm the drivers for 2021, Roberts replied: “I’m not💎 going to say anything🅰 about either of our drivers, they are both doing a great job.

“There’s so much s🥂peculation around, I don’t want to inadvertently fuel it. We’re happy, let’s watch the rest of the market.”

“I’m just not going to talk about it,” ♔he added when pressed on whether he would confirm Williams’ drivers for 2021. “Dorilton bought the team, nothing changed with regard to the drivers.

“There’s just so much speculation, rumours, it’s crazy. It’s silly season, after all. We♋’re noꦗt saying any more than that.”

Asked whether♑ the team could end the rumours by ruling out a move for Perez, Roberts replied: “Possibly, but we just don’t want to say anything one way or another. We’re here focusing on our race weekend. We haven’t got any news.

“The decision will be made by the management committee and the board of Williams Formula 1, it’s a very normal situation but we have nothing to ꩵsay on that matter tight now.”

Analysis - Williams’ lack of clarity leaves more questions than answers

ltxcn.top F1 Digitial Editor Lewis Larkam

Roberts’ attempt to avoid speculation about its 20ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ21 driver line-up have, ironically, only fuelled the situation further, leaving more questions than answers about why Williams is refusing to confirm Russell or Latifi.

Reading through the lines, it appears the situation may have indeed change since Dorilton came onboard after the i✃nitial announcement back in July that Williams would be retaining a status quo.

Whether you like it or not, there is sense behind a move for Perez. Not only is he a safe pair of hands and an incredibly consistent perform𝔍er, he would also provide the team with some welcome financial backing. 

With Russell effectively on loan from Mercedes for possibly just one more year, Perez would offer Williams some stability in the long-term as the team looks to capitalise on the incoming regulation overhaul in 2022 - something which might just appeal to the Mexican as a last landin🥂g spot to continue in F1.

Both Russell and Latifi both insisted they will remain with the team next year on Thursday, citing their respective contracts, but💙 as Perez well knows himself, contracts can mean very little in F1...