HRT extend deal with Williams

In a similar move to Team Lotus and Red Bull's agreement, HRT have agreed an improved collaboration with the Williams team.

For next season, Team Lotus [who will become Caterham] will continue to run with Red Bull gearboxes as they have this season, but for the first time will also use Red Bull's KERS systems in next seasons championship.

In a new deal between HRT and Williams, HRT will also continue to run the Williams gearbox and will also begin the 2012 Formula One season with KERS for the first time, as the new deal will allow them to run with Williams Kinetic Energy Recovery System and other associated technology, leaving Virgin [who will become Marussia] as the only team on the grid who looks set to not have KERS next season.

“In these past two years we have established a fruitful collaboration with Williams F1 and are pleased to continue having them play an important role in the development of our team,” HRT Team principal Colin Kolles told formula1.com.

'Apart from the experience we have accumulated in these years together, they will not only provide us with the latest technology in gearboxes but we will also reap the benefits of having KERS for next year, this being an important step for our team.'

The new deals will see two of the three teams known as the 'newbies' take another big leap forward going into their third season in Formula One.

HRT and Virgin have spent the majority of the 2011 season fighting over who will finish the season last.

Whilst neither team [or Team Lotus] have collected a F1 point since they entered the sport, HRT currently lead Virgin in the Formula 1 constructors world championship thanks to two 17th placed finishes in Monaco and Canada.