Williams has announced today that Finnish Driver – Valtteri Bottas – will take the second driver seat in 2013 alongside Pastor Maldonado.

In his first more relevant career steps Bottas won both the 2008 Formula Renault Eurocup and the 2008 Formula Renault Northern European Cup. These records were only achieved (2006) by another Portuguese drive Filipe Albuquerque that currently races in DTM for Team Rosberg (Audi A5) and concluded the 2012 season in 11th place overall among 20 drivers.

Valtteri Botas won the GP3 title in 2011. He also has a 3rd place in Macau 2009 Formula 3 Grand Prix that was recently won by portuguese driver António Félix da Costa. Félix da Costa finished the GP3 2012 championhship in 3rd.

In 2010 Bottas was designated as Williams test driver and continued to play that role in 2011 and 2012.

Sir Frank Williams stated that:

“Both drivers are very strong in their own right and I’m excited about what they can achieve next year. Pastor has shown this season that he is one of the fastest drivers in Formula One and has put in some stellar qualifying performances. Valtteri has already shown in what little running he has had that he can be on the pace quickly, so we should have two drivers that can get the most out of our car’s undoubted potential. They are also easy to get along with, which always helps in building good relationships with the engineers and developing the car.”

Bruno Senna, the nephew of the great and deceased F1 champion – Ayrton Senna da Silva – is therefore, for now, without a driving seat for 2013 F1 season.