While further pieces of F1's driver market are falling in to place, with Renault confirming on Friday that it has lured Nico Hulkenberg away from Force India, Williams has kept silent about its plans for 2017.

However, sources have revealed that it wants to wait a few more weeks to confirm that Stroll will be replacing Felipe Massa as Valtteri Bottas' teammate next year.

That is because Stroll, who clinched the European Formula 3 championship this year, is still just 17 – and confirmation of his association with the Martini-backed Williams team could have led to complications because he is under 18.

So in a bid to ensure that Martini can maximise the arrival of Stroll, an announcement of the team's line-up is likely to only come after the Canadian turns 18 on October 29 – which is the Saturday of the Mexican Grand Prix.

Williams may then choose to announce it in Mexico or wait until the following week.