Williams set to confirm Lance Stroll next week

Williams is to finally confirm Lance Stroll as a 2017 race driver in an event at its factory next Thursday.

The team has earmarked Nov. 3 as the date to reveal that the Canadian teenager will be joined by Valtteri Bottas, who is staying on for another year.

Stroll has been lined up for a race seat since September, but his confirmation was to delayed to allow him to qualify for a superlicence and win the European F3 title. More importantly, this weekend he turns 18, an important consideration in PR terms for a team sponsored by Martini.

Stroll has been busy testing a 2014 Williams on European F1 tracks in order to gain experience away from the spotlight. Most recently he was at Monza.