Williams F1 set for new sponsors

Recent weeks has seen much speculation regarding the line-up of sponsors that are going to be joining the Williams F1 team for the 2014 Formula One season. Most of the discussion has focused around Martini becoming the title sponsor of the team, but there are also reports stating that Brazilian firms Petrobras and Banco do Brasil would also be joining the team.

None of these reports have been confirmed by the Williams F1 team but other sources including a highly creditable Brazilian source have Petrobras signing a deal with the team on the back of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa joining the Williams F1 team. It is expected that an announcement will be made on February 18th in Brazil.

But the biggest rumours are those circulating that Martini would become the teams' title sponsor. It is speculated that should both of these deals occur, the FW36 would be seen running in the Martini livery on a white background with the Petrobras logos situated near the cockpit. This would mark a major shift for the Williams team with their cars been mainly blue over the last few years.

The third sponsor Banco do Brasil, would come on board along with Felipe Nasr who is widely tipped become the teams' third driver.  have agreed a partnership with the team and their logo would feature in a minor way on the race drivers' overalls and on the car also.

Despite the lack of confirmation by the Williams team after an image of an official Martini branded Williams shirt appeared on a merchandising website would appear to confirm that such an agreement with Martini is in place. Either that or someone is creating a major hoax. Martini's return to F1 will be its first involvement since it was a sponsor of Ferrari from 2006-08.

The Williams team has said several times that its race livery will be revealed before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Martini has had a long history of sponsorship in Formula one starting back in 1972 and in 1975 they would sponsor the Brabham team remaining until the end of 1977. Martini would withdraw from Formula One but they would return in 2006 as a minor sponsor of Ferrari when again its logos featured on a nose..