Williams F1 insists that the signing of Sergey Sirotkin is part of a long-term strategy for the team, and was not a financially-motivated decision.
His appointment as the team's new full-time driver in 2018 was announced last week. The Russian will replace the now-retired Felipe Massa in the line-up alongside Lance Stroll.
Sirotkin saw off stiff competition for the seat from the likes of Robert Kubica, Paul di Resta, Daniil Kvyat and Pascal Wehrlein.
Williams CEO Mike O’Driscoll explained that the team was expecting a long partnership with the 22-year-old.
“What we have with Sergey is a multi-year contract. We have a lot of confidence in Sergey," he said. "It’s a multi-year contract. So expect to see Sergey, in the years ahead, wearing the Williams uniform.”
In keeping with the team's long-standing policy, O’Driscoll declined to go any further into the specific details of Sirotkin's contract.
He was speaking at a Williams-SMP Racing joint event in Moscow. Also in attendance was the team's chief technical officer Paddy Lowe.
“We’re very excited about what Sergey can do this year, and even in the many years ahead," said Lowe.
“Like Mike said, this is a multi-year partnership with Sergey and also with SMP Racing," he added. "We're very impressed with what SMP are doing.
"It shows an example to the rest of the world, a process by which young drivers can be promoted and supported."
“What we really want in motorsport is the very best talent coming to the top," he insisted. "Not the talent that’s driven there by opportunity, good luck, or money."
SMP Racing chief executive Dmitry Samorukov was glad to see Williams taking the longer-term view over Sirotkin's future.
“We knew that there was no point in signing a contract just for one year, in terms of Sergey's work with the team and with the car," Samorukov said.
“Our programme is designed for more than a year," he pointed out. "We have very flexible terms in the deal, but it's definitely 'one-plus'."
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