Manager slams Williams for late Hulkenberg axe

Nico Hulkenberg's manager has hit out at Williams for taking so long to oust the 23-year-old ahead of the 2011 season.

Auto Motor und Sport in Germany is reporting that the British team's chairman Adam Parr only told the German and his manager Willi Weber that he will not be racing next year in the darkness after last Sunday's Abu Dhabi season finale.

Apparently so late was the decision communicated that Hulkenberg was planning a longer stay in the Middle East ahead of the first Pirelli test late this week.

Williams confirmed only on Wednesday that Rubens Barrichello will now be doing the tyre testing alone.

"I have not been handled like this for the last 20 years," said Weber, referring to his two-decade involvement in F1 since Michael Schumacher entered the sport at the beginning of the 90s.

"I wouldn't have minded if they came clean and said 'We need money so we can no longer afford Nico'. But instead we are at the last second where we have hardly any time to look elsewhere," he added.

It is believed that Renault is no longer an option for Hulkenberg, given the Russian government's reported decision to pour more backing into Vitaly Petrov's coffers for 2011.

German reports mention Force India and Lotus as possibilities, but Ferrari and Weber have officially denied the reported link between Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa's confirmed cockpit.