Bottas gets race seat at Williams

Williams have confirmed that their second driver for the 2013 season will be Valtteri Bottas.

(c) Octane Photographic

The Finn is a GP3 champion, who has had to sit on the sidelines in 2012. He took the role of “test and reserve driver”, but he still managed to get some useful F1 experience. This was thanks to Williams gifting him 15 outings in the FW34 during Free Practice 1, taking over Bruno Senna’s car.

The confirmation of Bottas at Williams means popular Brazilian Bruno Senna currently does not have a seat in the sport. Team Principal Frank Williams said on losing Senna "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our departing driver Bruno Senna for his hard work over the past year and wish him the best of luck going forward,"

Valtteri Bottas said on his new position "It has always been my life-long dream to compete in the Formula 1 world championship," he said. 

"To do so with one of the most legendary teams in the sport is incredibly special. I've really enjoyed my three years with Williams so far and feel very at home here so my goal was always to stay for 2013 and progress to a race seat."

The Finnish racer signed for the team in 2010 and has finally been promoted, saying he “needed” to be racing in 2013 after a year out.

Frank Williams said on the signing "In Pastor and Valtteri we have two of the most exciting talents in motor racing and I'm especially excited about what 2013 can bring for Williams," he said. 

"Pastor has always demonstrated remarkable pace and this year has seen him mature as a racing driver.

"Valtteri is quite simply one of the most talented young racing drivers I have come across and we expects great things from him in the future."

The F1 2013 driver line up continues to take shape, with more news set to be revealed in the coming weeks.