Williams eyes Abu Dhabi bank as new sponsor

(GMM) The National Bank of Abu Dhabi has emerged as a possible sponsor of a formula one team in 2011.

The bank, into the second year of a three-year deal sponsor deal with the F1 event at Yas Marina this weekend, has an increased signage presence around the track.

And it is now rumored that Williams is in the running for a team sponsorship deal, as it prepares to lose existing bank sponsor the Royal Bank of Scotland after Sunday's race.

However, the British outfit's chief executive Adam Parr said Williams is already in "great shape" financially for 2011, despite reports the Dutch electronics brand Philips is also leaving the team.

It had been suggested that Williams was having to consider signing the well-financed new GP2 champion Pastor Maldonado for next season despite the team being happy with Nico Hulkenberg and Rubens Barrichello.

"We haven't made any decisions about our driver lineup for next year," said Parr on Friday. "What we have done is replaced all the sponsorship we have lost."