UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Williams rules out selling Rosberg

Team does not need the money

Nov.23 (GMM) Sir Frank Williams on Friday diminished the prospect of a move to McLaren for Nico Rosberg even further.

The eponymous Oxfordshire based team's boss and co-owner vehemently told the German publication Sport Auto that he is not interested in selling the 22-year-old's 2008 contract to Ron Dennis -- even for an impressive multi-million dollar price tag.

Alongside names including Heikki Kovalainen, Adrian Sutil and Pedro de la Rosa, German-born Rosberg had been touted as a frontrunner to replace Fernando Alonso at Mercedes-powered McLaren for 2008 and beyond.

But Williams, 65, insisted: "How am I going to go with that to the people in the factory, and to the sponsors?

"I tell them that we want to be back up there, and that I sold our best driver as well? I might as well sell the team," the Briton said.

Williams plummeted to eighth in the constructors' championship last year, but had a stronger season on all fronts in 2007.

Still referring to his contractual hold on Rosberg, Williams explained: "A year ago I might have weakened because we really needed the money. But this is no longer the case."

Written: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:51:03