Williams takes up Rosberg option

Williams has reportedly taken up its option on Nico Rosberg to drive for the team in 2006, either as official test and third driver or as race driver alongside Mark Webber. There has been no official confirmation from Williams but Rosberg told reporters in Shanghai that boss Frank Williams gave him the news a few days ago.

Nico Rosberg.

Photo by xpb.cc.

"At the beginning of the week Frank said that I will be one of the three drivers," Rosberg said. "At least I will be a test driver next season and hopefully a race driver. It will be decided in the next week or two, at the latest. It's still between me, (Antonio) Pizzonia and another driver I think."

Rosberg has been the second test driver at Williams this season. Pizzonia, the team's official tester, deputized for Nick Heidfeld at Monza after the German was injured in a testing crash. Heidfeld was further injured while out training, then announced he would be moving to BMW next year and Pizzonia has been in the race seat ever since.

Team members have previously said that Pizzonia and Rosberg are on the short list to line up alongside Webber next season but it's not certain who the possible third option might be. Names on the current grid have been linked with a move to Williams but it's all speculation. Rosberg, meanwhile, is happy to be a full part of the team.

"There was a possibility to get out for two years if I got a race drive somewhere else, which would also be good for Williams because I would get experience and then come back and race for them," he said. "But now they have taken an option, which I am very pleased about. I have a lot of respect for the team, I feel very much at home and am really pleased about being part of the team next year."