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Williams hoping to hold onto Hulkenberg

Sir Frank Williams rates Nico Hulkenberg very highly © Getty Images

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Sir Frank Williams is hoping to nurture Nico Hulkenberg at Williams and has tipped him as a star of the future.

Hulkenberg made his Formula One debut at last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix and finished 14th after spinning early in the race and ruining his tyres. He experienced success in the junior categories, winning the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2008 and GP2 in 2009, and Williams sees him as a key part of his team's future.

"Nico is our big star," he said. "He has won every other series that he has done, and the only other driver to have done this is Lewis Hamilton. That says everything."

Hulkenberg's manger Willi Weber recently said he had plans for his driver to join Ferrari in a few years, but Williams is keen to keep the 22-year-old at his team for as long as possible.

"It is up to me that they don't snatch him away," Williams said. "I found it very unprofessional that Weber is saying he [Hulkenberg] will be with Ferrari in 2013. Anyway, I hope Nico is with us for a very long time. I have put an experienced driver - Rubens - by his side, so that he can learn as much as possible."

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